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Malaysian Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor announced at its Raya open house this year that the new Nissan X-Trail would be coming to Malaysia by the end of 2014 as a CKD model.

It appears that Tan Chong could be right on track with the SUV's launch date, as multiple units of the Nissan X-Trail have been spotted being transported together with other Nissan cars on trailers yesterday. We don't know if these are CBU or CKD units though. Thanks to reader Khen Yong for the spy pix.

The 2014 Nissan X-Trail made its global debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. Indonesia and the Philippines were the first ASEAN countries to get the car - it was launched in September 2014 in the two countries, so the fact that Malaysia will be getting it this year is very fast indeed.

The new Nissan X-trail is available as both a 5-seater and 7-seater, with the latter having more of a 5+2 arrangement than a full 7 seater, with the third row being mostly for children. You can't really expect full 7-seater capability from a C-segment vehicle. Prices in Indonesia start at Rp. 383 million (RM103,300) for the 2.0 litre manual, rising to Rp. 413 million (RM111,300) for the CVT-equipped 2.0 litre and Rp. 431.5 million (RM116,900) for the 2.5 litre model.

Two four-cylinder petrol engine choices are available – a Serena S-Hybrid-derived MR20DD 2.0 litre direct-injected mill developing 144 PS and 200 Nm, as well as a QR25DE 2.5 litre MPI motor from the Teana that produces 171 PS and 233 Nm. Not sure which engines Malaysia will get, but we know for sure we'll get the automatic gearbox, which is an Xtronic CVT. Other regions like Europe gets diesel engines too of course.

As for safety, Euro NCAP announced today that the European spec Nissan X-trail has scored five stars in their crash test. In also scored well for child protection - based on dummy readings in the dynamic tests, the new X-Trail scored maximum points for its protection of an 18-month old infant.