Fully redesigned for 1996, Nissan's sport-utility vehicle went on sale
after the model year began. This was the first major reworking of the
Pathfinder since its debut a decade earlier. A new, longer-wheelbase
unibody chassis replaced the old body-on-frame design. In addition to
dual airbags and standard 4-wheel antilock brakes, the new Pathfinder
got a bigger V6 engine. Overall length increased by 6.7 inches,
wheelbase stretched 2 inches, and width grew by 2.2 inches. Despite the
increased dimensions, weight actually dropped by about 200 pounds. The
spare tire moved under the cargo area, but an outside-mounted tire
carrier was optional. The 4-door wagon had a rear liftgate and a
separate top-hinged glass back window. Three models were available:
base XE, sport-oriented SE, and luxury LE. All three used a 3.3-liter
V6 producing 168 horsepower. Peak torque increased from 180 to 196
pound-feet. A 5-speed manual transmission was standard on XE and SE
Pathfinders. Four-speed automatic was standard on the LE, optional on
others. The SE had standard part-time 4-wheel drive (not for use on dry
pavement), with shift-on-the-fly capability via a console-mounted lever
at speeds up to 50 mph. XE and LE models had rear-drive standard, with
4WD an option.
“Perfection is not merely a matter of visuals”, as one Porsche advertisement put it as part of its campaign for the new 944. This strapline indicated that whilst the 944 differed very little on the outside, beneath the surface, the differences were clearer. An additional cam, four-valve technology and additional modifications created a lively, highly compressed engine with superb thermal efficiency which output 190 bhp both with and without a catalytic converter. Environmentally friendly technology combined with sporty performance indicated that slotted comfortably between performance and price.
Powered by the same 4-cylinder, 130hp engine as the RS, the K1200GT
utilizes BMW's patented Telelever and Paralever suspension. Braking is
a cinch with BMW EVO and partial integral ABS braking technology.
A special feature of the K 1200 GT is that this new machine does not require the slightest compromise, but rather overcomes the apparent contradiction between superior sportiness and a high standard of touring comfort.
BMW's new top-end motorcycle combines maximum agility and dynamic performance with an ideal package for long trips and pleasant journeys. To reach this objective, the development engineers at BMW Motorrad have carried over the trendsetting running gear and engine technology of the former K 1200 S and K 1200 R straight into this new sporting tourer.
The innovative wheel guidance systems - the BMW Duolever at the front and the EVO-Paralever at the rear - make a very significant contribution to the excellent and highly dynamic riding characteristics of the K 1200 GT.
Drive power comes from the cutting-edge straight-four engine in transverse arrangement, developing maximum output in the GT version of 152 hp (112 kW) and thus currently setting the benchmark in the touring segment.