First teased in an official image released in October (initially believed to be a Tiida replacement), Nissan has today unveiled its new 'global sedan' at the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition in China.

The new model is expected to appeal to young buyers and young families, combining what Nissan describes as an upscale interior design with space and quality materials.

Power for Nissan's new global model will be provided by the same 1.5 litre petrol engine driving the Australian-delivered Micra, producing 75kW and 136Nm of torque and mated to the brand's new Xtronic CVT automatic transmission.

Suspension is managed by MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam rear.

In the Chinese market, the new model will debut as the next-generation 'Sunny', a badge that stretches back to the 1960s and holds plenty of cachet with Nissan buyers around the world.

Although long absent from the Australian market (where it appeared on only one generation of the car), the Sunny name has continued in various forms and markets - including Japan, where it was replaced by the Tiida in 2005.

Whether this new global light sedan will bear the Sunny name in any Western markets remains to be seen. For Australia, the new model - which Nissan CEO Dan Thompson has tentatively tipped for a local launch and sold alongside the Micra hatch - may even see the return of the Pulsar badge.

However, it is more likely that the new model will be offered as the Micra Sedan, while the Pulsar name - if it returns at all - could see the retirement of the Tiida name. Design studies of the Tiida's succesor have already been built, but have yet to be shown to the public.

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• reply ” like !

  Anthony Mindel says,
  2 years ago

  1 like

  This looks hideous,even uglier than the Tiida range.
  
  Nissan cars seem to be in deep crisis.
• reply ” like !

  

  daviepops says,
  2 years ago

  I agree with Anthony ... this is a joke it should be named Funny not Sunny ... design wise it rates with those unfortunate looking Korean cars of a decade ago ... FAIL !!!
• reply ” like !

  says,
  2 years ago

  1 like

  Looks frumpy. What's up with the too-small wheels and wheel wells? The car looks "last generation, about to be replaced" even though it's not even out yet. And that "upscale" interior design? Maybe in 1990. Maybe it's designed to appeal to the Chinese market, but as a global car... doesn't bode well.
  
  Did Nissan put their designers in a coccoon, forever isolated from the world? Didn't they see what others do these days in term of modern car design, Chevrolet, Hyundai, etc.?
• reply ” like !

  

  Howard says,
  2 years ago

  What's with Japan this half decade, they are putting out real mainstream stinkers. What happened to the silvias, the r34 skylines,supras.. need I say more. This is beyond a joke. Why don't they import the toyota crown rather then make a toyota aurion. If that's the way they want to go out with-out a bang then they won't be remembered gracefully at all.
• reply ” like !

  

  Godspeed says,
  2 years ago

  Yeah... not pretty.
  
  Hopefully, "Global Sedan" means this will be consigned to mostly developing markets and not us; they can have it.
  
  Doesn't fit in with other modern Nissans at all.
  
  Anthony> "Nissan cars seem to be in deep crisis"
  - Not sure about this statement mate? R35 GT-R (including 2011 update); new Patrol; 370Z; Murano as part of the current range are all bang up to date cars and highly competitive in their respective segments. Nissan *does* need a much better volume-selling small car to match the likes of the Mazda 3, i30 and even Corolla, however.
• reply ” like !

  Steve Thompson says,
  2 years ago

  They haven't got a Pulsar (Sunny, Tiida) right since N15. They can style a car though contrary to what someone said above. Put the Infiniti team on the Pulsar project Carlos - this 'uns a stinker!
  • reply ” like !

    

    Howard says,
    2 years ago

    Correction Steve they haven't got a pulsar right since the GTI-R :'-)
• reply ” like !

  

  5 valve per cylinder says,
  2 years ago

  
  Can't believe Nissan actually approved this for production.
  
  This will surely be voted as the worst car of this century to be ever conceived.