Top five monsoon driving tips from Nissan

BANGKOK (June 24, 2019) – Thailand’s rainy season begins at the end of May and reaches its peak in September with the highest rainfall of around 350mm. Torrential rains coupled with the added weight of its skyscrapers increase the city’s chances of flooding, and result in approximately 1-2cm of sinking annually. These downpours also disrupt the daily lives of city dwellers – in 2017, floods in the city affected more than 3,000 vehicles with insurance claims amounting to more than 45.6 million baht.

To make sure drivers and their vehicles are not left stranded when the monsoons hit, Nissan shares five top driving tips in floods with details on how the Nissan Terra, with its 800mm water wading ability enables city dwellers to #GoAnywhere during rainy season.

1. Know the maximum wading depth of your vehicle – This height is set for each vehicle by where the vulnerable systems are, like the air filter and distributor. Made in and for Southeast Asia, the Nissan Terra offers drivers 225mm of ample ground clearance to confidently wade in up to 800mm of water, a height deep enough to submerge two stacked bowling pins. Watch the Terra prove its capabilities not only in urban floods, but while driving through a river with a strong current here.

2. Ease into the water at no faster than 3km/h – This reduces the chance of water entering the engine through the air filter and damaging electrical parts, as it creates a “bow wave” in front of the vehicle and a depression in water level around the engine bay. To assist drivers, the Terra’s 2.3-liter twin turbo diesel engine provides 190hp of power and 450Nm of torque to powerfully navigate submerged terrain with power.

3. Keep a constant speed and do not release the accelerator – This prevents water from flooding the engine through the exhaust pipe. With features like Hill Start Assist, the Nissan Terra confidently manages inclines and hill ascents, even when water wading, to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards. It holds pressure on the brake for a few seconds, providing enough time to switch from the brake pedal to the accelerator.

4. Proceed one vehicle at a time – This is so you will not be forced to stop in the middle of the flooded roads if the vehicle in front stalls. At just over 1.8 meters wide, the Terra offers an abundance of smartly designed cabin space yet allows urbanites to navigate even narrow flooded city streets

5. After safely crossing a flood, check for any vehicle irregularity or debris– Check your vehicle and engine bay for any signs of debris that could be trapped inside. Emerging from a flooded street, Nissan’s Advanced Drive-Assist Display provides full details of the Terra’s system from tire pressure, to the 4x4 system. Most importantly, via the Intelligent Rear-View Mirror, Nissan Terra enables driver to maintain a clear rear view of the whole family as well as an unobstructed rear view behind the vehicle, via a camera at the rear hatch.

“Floods during the monsoon season cause big challenges in major cities such as Bangkok, because people can’t reach their destinations on time, with rising waters causing delays. Our customer’s safety and ability to go anywhere, at any time, is at the heart of what we do. This inspired us to ensure the Nissan Terra’s ability to go through high water can transform the way people drive, with confidence,” said Hironori Awano, Nissan Terra Chief Vehicle Engineer.

“Just 300mm of water will float many vehicles, and 600mm can carry away even some heavy-duty vehicles.  We aim to educate drivers in this region about safe water driving and how the Nissan Terra can make their daily lives easier.”

Find out more about how the Nissan Terra boosts drivers’ confidence in everyday use and on off-road situations with an infographic hosted at this link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18Y1yWMKxx8BOmOS7BjJjYnSaTx7HwFDv/view?ts=5d105063