DETROIT — Betting that fuel-efficient subcompacts are poised for a comeback, Nissan announced Wednesday it will start producing a new small car in mid-2006 in Mexico that's aimed at the North American market.
The 2007 Versa is an American-spec version of the home-market Tiida and is smaller than the Sentra, the company's current entry-level car in North America. The price will start around $12,000. A Versa five-door hatchback will go on sale next summer, followed later in the year by a four-door sedan.
Power comes from a 120-horsepower, dual-overhead-cam, 1.8-liter four-cylinder that can be mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Nissan plans to produce the new subcompact at an annual rate of up to 100,000 vehicles, based on demand. The new Nissan will compete with other small cars set to debut in the United States, including Toyota's Yaris — the successor to the slow-selling Echo — and Honda's Fit. The Tiida and the Fit already are in production in Japan and China, while the Yaris is being produced in France.
What this means to you: GM may be pinning its comeback hopes on big SUVs, but the Japanese are thinking smaller and smaller.
The 2007 Versa is an American-spec version of the home-market Tiida and is smaller than the Sentra, the company's current entry-level car in North America. The price will start around $12,000. A Versa five-door hatchback will go on sale next summer, followed later in the year by a four-door sedan.
Power comes from a 120-horsepower, dual-overhead-cam, 1.8-liter four-cylinder that can be mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Nissan plans to produce the new subcompact at an annual rate of up to 100,000 vehicles, based on demand. The new Nissan will compete with other small cars set to debut in the United States, including Toyota's Yaris — the successor to the slow-selling Echo — and Honda's Fit. The Tiida and the Fit already are in production in Japan and China, while the Yaris is being produced in France.
What this means to you: GM may be pinning its comeback hopes on big SUVs, but the Japanese are thinking smaller and smaller.
Add A Comment »