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Nissan Australia Announces Onslaught Of New Models And Updates For 2010

NISSAN AUSTRALIA has revealed its product plans for 2010, announcing a product offensive that will see four models facelifted, six models upgraded and three new models introduced to Nissan's Australian line-up.

The company aims to sell 60,000-p


NISSAN AUSTRALIA has revealed its product plans for 2010, announcing a product offensive that will see four models facelifted, six models upgraded and three new models introduced to Nissan's Australian line-up.

The company aims to sell 60,000-plus cars in 2010 (a healthy increase over last year's 52,901 sales), boosting its market share to six percent. With numerous revisions, additions and replacements planned for the bulk of its model range, Nissan hopes improvements in value and specification will help drive sales.

The new 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster is the first to roll out; the shapely convertible launched this week.

Next will be the 2010 Tiida, set to launch on March 1. A mild facelift and equipment upgrade is planned for Nissan's small car entrant, with the range also streamlined to just the ST and Ti model variants. A price cut will be applied too, seeing both ST and Ti shed a couple of thousand dollars off their retail prices.

The 2010 370Z Coupe is due for an April release, with prices remaining at $67,990 for the manual.

The biggest change for the Z is the addition of 19-inch forged Rays alloys to the Coupe's standard equipment list. The bigger, lighter wheels will reduce unsprung weight, allowing wider rubber to be fitted than on the current 18-inch cast alloys.

An update for the R35 GT-R will also arrive before mid-year, with satellite navigation finally added to the car's list of standard equipment.

For the current-generation 2010 Nissan Dualis: a facelift and spec upgrade is due on May 1.

A front-end restyle and an updated interior will be the most noticable changes; a panoramic sunroof will also be available. New wheel designs are to be added to the ST and Ti, while Nissan says price will be unchanged on the base Dualis ST.

A seven-seater model will be added to the Dualis range a few months after the facelifted five-seater hits showrooms. Called the Dualis+2, the seven-seater has been on sale in Europe as the Qashqai+2 since October 2008 and features a longer wheelbase and longer rear overhang than the five-seat model.

Later in the year, Nissan will release facelifted models of the Pathfinder and Navara, with both receiving significant powertrain upgrades and improved fuel efficiency.

Although exterior refinements will be mild, the Navara's interior quality will receive some special attention. Full details have yet to be released, but expect more information to surface once the updated Navara is unveiled at next month's Geneva show.

The most significant addition to the 2010 model line-up will arrive in the fourth quarter this year, when the all-new Micra replacement lands on Australian shores.

Due to be officially unveiled next week at the Geneva auto show, Nissan Australia says the new Micra will boast broader appeal and improved safety.

Nissan declined to offer specifics on the new model's features and mechanical upgrades, but expect the 2011 Micra to be available with a manual transmission - finally addressing the shortcomnings of the existing model, which is only available as an automatic.

Powertrain details will be revealed at Geneva, but a diesel has been ruled out for the Australian market. Australia-bound Micras will be built in Thailand, while European Micras will be sourced from India.

The all-new Nissan Patrol, which debuted earlier this month at Abu Dhabi, is not slated for a 2010 release, with local launch timing still to be decided. Right-hand drive production has yet to commence, and a mid-2011 Australian launch looks likely.

Further afield, Nissan Australia is standing by its commitment to bring the all-electric Leaf hatchback to Australia in limited numbers in 2012. The Leaf, which is capable of running for 160km on a singe charge, is due to go on sale in the USA later this year with Japan following soon after.

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