Nissan’s shifting the right way. Here’s proof from the Shanghai Motor Show
2011 COMPACT SPORT CONCEPT
This ultra-hot concept is based on the Nissan Micra. It’s a three-door hatchback with looks that, if retained to the last detail, could kill every other hot hatch in the world. The front end is an obvious cue to its Micra origins, but an outrageously large front air dam, ice-cool LED rings for fog lamps and an irresistible snout make us want to shout “Bring it on, Nissan!”Oh, and under the hood is a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol motor from the Juke crossover that produces 188 bhp! The interiors are funky, with snazzy red details and a flat-bottom steering wheel. We’d like ours home delivered please!
VERSA HATCH/SEDAN
Based on the ‘V’ (stands for Versatile) platform, the Versa was revealed at the Shanghai Motor Show as well as the New York Motor Show. Nissan’s global car is sold as the Tiida in Japan and also the Latio in other markets. The ‘V’ platform of course spun off the Micra in India, to be followed by the Sunny. The next bunch of cars to utilise the common platform is this large hatch and its sedan equivalent. The Versa boasts of extremely spacious interiors, with the sedan claiming better legroom than even the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5 Series! On the looks front, the duo look fairly contemporary, if not outstanding, and the sedan gets a protruding boot lid and swooping tail-lamps, akin to the Swift Dzire. As of the moment, the Versa is available with a 1.6-litre petrol engine which produces 109 bhp@6000 rpm and 14.7 kg of torque at 4400 rpm. Apart from the 5-speed manual gearbox, the Versa also has a CVT variant. We haven’t heard of a diesel motor yet, but we’re sure Nissan has something up its sleeve on that front. Overall, the Versa, especially the sedan, looks promising for an India debut. But getting the Sunny out by the second half of this year is priority for Nissan India.
