2007 Nissan Versa Will Compete Against Aveo

[Perian]

Link: http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=13435

DETROIT -- Nissan North America Inc. will expand its U.S. lineup next year with a small hatchback and sedan named Versa. The automaker is spending $800 million to upgrade its plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico, to build the cars for North America.

The Versa uses the platform from the Nissan Tiida sold in Japan. Nissan will use the Tiida name on cars sold in Mexico.

The Versa, which is smaller than the Sentra, is expected to have a base price of about $12,000. It will be equipped with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine rated at about 120 hp. Mated to an optional continuously variable transmission, Nissan says the powertrain should deliver a combined city-highway fuel economy rating of 38 mpg.

The hatchback will go on sale in early summer 2006 as a 2007 model, Nissan said. Sales of the sedan will begin in late 2006.

The addition of the Versa will give Nissan a vehicle to compete in the growing B-car segment in the United States. That segment includes the Scion models from Toyota Motor Corp. and the upcoming small car from Honda Motor Co., based on the Fit and Jazz models sold in Japan and Europe. The Honda car is expected to go on sale in the spring, about the same time as the Nissan Versa hatchback.

Nissan said it also will deliver a redesigned Sentra and Altima and restyled Maxima for the 2007 model year. The Sentra also is built in the Aguascalientes plant. The Altima and Maxima are built in Smyrna, Tenn. Some Altimas also are built in Nissan's plant in Canton, Miss.

Article continues at link.

[Perian]

38MPG combined is 35MPG City, 40MPG Highway.

With no hybrid equipment and that kind of mileage...Nissan has another winner.

Note to moderator: Photo at link.

[AdmiralViscen]

Isn't 12,000 a little expensive for the class?

"The addition of the Versa will give Nissan a vehicle to compete in the growing B-car segment in the United States. That segment includes the Scion models from Toyota Motor Corp. and the upcoming small car from Honda Motor Co., based on the Fit and Jazz models sold in Japan and Europe. The Honda car is expected to go on sale in the spring, about the same time as the Nissan Versa hatchback."

Why not mention the Aveo in this little blurb? It's the best selling vehicle in its class. This is the sort of subtle bias that pretty much exists across the board. Why mentoin an unconfirmed, distant future (meaning later than 2007) Honda car and not a domestic car that is the top seller?

[01cavalier]

The mileage seems a bit on the high side, Im surprised about it having a 1.8, sounds like its taking the place of the old Sentra, was expecting a smaller engine.

[paul3230]

Wow..I hope it looks the same when it comes to the states so the new Aveo can pound it into the ground!

[paul3230]

Originally Posted by AdmiralViscen

Isn't 12,000 a little expensive for the class?

"The addition of the Versa will give Nissan a vehicle to compete in the growing B-car segment in the United States. That segment includes the Scion models from Toyota Motor Corp. and the upcoming small car from Honda Motor Co., based on the Fit and Jazz models sold in Japan and Europe. The Honda car is expected to go on sale in the spring, about the same time as the Nissan Versa hatchback."

Why not mention the Aveo in this little blurb? It's the best selling vehicle in its class. This is the sort of subtle bias that pretty much exists across the board. Why mentoin an unconfirmed, distant future (meaning later than 2007) Honda car and not a domestic car that is the top seller?

Again, no credit is going to the domestic car makers.

[saturnsteve]

That is one FUGLY machine. What is up with Nissan, I remember when they made good looking cars.

[Dead Dude]

Still surprised they didn't pick the Cube.

[paul8488]

That's a Renault, isn't it? The front end screams Clio and Megane. 38 mpg and 120 hp... the Aveo either needs to get better economy from the current motor or get the current economy from a smaller motor. Or, better yet, better economy from a smaller motor!

[x2222]

Originally Posted by paul8488

That's a Renault, isn't it? The front end screams Clio and Megane. 38 mpg and 120 hp... the Aveo either needs to get more economy from the current motor or get the current economy from a bigger motor.

Yea that seems like its the new clio or something. Its really a pretty good car though with a decent interior.

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

"It's a Nissan". It'll sell like hot cakes, even though it is about $4,000 more than the Aveo.

[toro83]

Originally Posted by New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66

"It's a Nissan". It'll sell like hot cakes, even though it is about $4,000 more than the Aveo.

If this car is $12K, how is it $4K more than the Aveo? The Aveo SVM is next to impossible to find. I work for a company of car dealerships and we have 2 Chevy stores, and since the Aveo was introduced, we've had literally 1 SVM in inventory. The average Aveo that we have in stock is around $13K MSRP.

[Carver]

Isn't this thing a bit larger than the Aveo? That would explain the relatively high price and the larger engine. That would make sense b/c the new Sentra (if it ever arrives!) is expected to be significantly larger due to the gap between the Altima and the Sentra.

[mbukukanyau]

It’s a French thingy, a Renault something, its fugly in its natural state…
I have seen them down in Tijuana being driven by taxi men…
Inside it’s a total disaster

[bigdaddycoats]

many pics here -

http://www.nissannews.com/