New Nissan Concept Car Previews in Europe

2012 GENEVA AUTO SHOW Nissan concept previews a new subcompact for Europe Nick Gibbs Follow Automotive News on and Automotive News Europe | February 7, 2012 12:45 CET LONDON -- Nissan will unveil the Invitation concept for a new subcompact model at the Geneva auto show next month. The concept previews a replacement for the Note minivan, sources said. Nissan said the Invitation is designed to achieve high fuel economy along with dynamic performance, as well as provide plenty of interior room. A production version will launch in Europe in 2013. A Nissan UK spokesman would not say whether the five-door Invitation previews the successor to the Note, which launched in Europe in 2006, but said the production version will give Nissan a hatchback positioned above the Micra minicar. "The Note is an MPV. This is much more of a hatchback rival. The Micra is actually quite a small car," the spokesman said. "The Invitation is very much conceived to compete head on with big sellers in B (subcompact) segment, which are bigger these days." Nissan did not say whether the production version would be built at the automaker's factory in Sunderland, England, which builds the Note. "As with any car of that size, Sunderland will be a front runner. The various plants have to bid for it." The Note is Nissan's fourth best-selling model in Europe after the Qashqai, Juke and Micra. European sales of the Note fell 22 percent to 35,425 last year, according to JATO Dynamics market researchers. Nissan says the Invitation will bring a fresh style to the subcompact segment. Nissan said it aimed to bring fresh style, innovation and excitement to the mainstream market with the Invitation. The concept showcases the company's latest thinking in terms of lightweight construction and advanced engine design with class-leading aerodynamics for improved fuel efficiency and low emissions, a statement said. The concept also has advanced technology, including Nissan's Around View Monitor (AVM) which gives a bird's eye view of the car for easy parking, and the automaker's Safety Shield Technologies which uses cameras and proximity sensors to alert the driver to potential danger. The Invitation previews a 2013 production car. The Invitation is one of two global concept Geneva debuts for Nissan. Details of the second concept will be disclosed at the show, Nissan said. Reports say the concept could preview the next Qashqai. The company will also give European debuts to the e-NV200 electric seven-seat minivan unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January and the Juke Nismo, a performance version of the Juke created by Nissan Motorsport and shown at the 2011 Tokyo motor show. The Invitation's styling likely previews a more dynamic successor to the Note. PRINTED FROM: http://edit.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120207/ANE/120209844&template=printartANE Entire contents ©2012 Crain Communications, Inc.