Nissan heralds bold new direction

10:10, Feb 7 2012 Motoring News by Mike Torpey, drivingforce.uk.net

NISSAN is providing a glimpse of the company’s future with a quartet of concept cars – including two world premieres – at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. Among them will be the world premiere of INVITATION, a design set to inspire a new production model due in Europe during 2013. When launched, this new model will join Micra and Juke to give Nissan an even stronger hand in the compact hatchback arena. The company says INVITATION offers a modern, spacious interior in a compact overall package and will deliver spirited dynamics, exceptional fuel economy and low emissions. It also packs some of the most advanced technology seen in a car of its class, including Around View Monitor which gives a bird’s eye view of the car for easy parking, and the Nissan Safety Shield technologies which uses cameras and proximity sensors to alert the driver to potential danger. While INVITATION is one of two concepts being given their world debut at Geneva, details of the second are being kept secret until the show itself. But two further concepts, both hinting at future directions for Nissan, will be given their European debuts. The first, e-NV200, previews Nissan’s next 100 per cent electric vehicle and is based on the NV200 that can offer affordable family transport with seating for up to seven. In fact NV200 was recently chosen as the base for the next generation New York ‘yellow’ cab. Another glimpse to the future is provided by the Juke NISMO Concept first seen last December at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. Nissan motorsports division NISMO has inspired the concept , which gives the first glimpse into the company’s strategy to create performance and premium sports versions of mainstream Nissan models.