GARDENA, Calif. (February 2, 1999) – A panel of young buyers assembled by The Detroit News ranked Nissan's Xterra as the best sport utility vehicle of the 1999 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), held last month in Detroit.
Considering automakers' recent emphasis on marketing to young buyers, The Detroit News asked consumers 18 to 25 years old to participate on a panel to critique the new products at NAIAS. Eight participants were chosen to tour the show prior to its opening.
Seven of the eight panelists chose the Xterra as the best SUV at the show. "You can really see yourself taking it off road – not like some other so-called SUVs," said Adam Reardon, 24, of Ann Arbor, Mich.
Nissan's Xterra was created for active, young consumers who need a uniquely appointed and powerful vehicle to satisfy lifestyle demands without all of the frills that typically boost the price of SUVs. Xterra marks a return to what SUVs were originally intended for – utility rather than luxury.
"In simplest terms, Xterra is designed to be a tough, mobile place for stuff," explained Jerry Hirshberg, president, Nissan Design International, Inc. "Its core appeal is its simplicity. It is what is does."
The Nissan Xterra will be released in June 1999.
In North America, Nissan's operations include styling, engineering, manufacturing, sales, consumer and corporate financing, and industrial and textile equipment. Nissan in North America employs more than 20,000 people in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and generates more than 70,000 jobs through more than 1,500 Nissan and Infiniti dealerships across the continent.
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