Nissan
has unveiled the Nissan Invitation concept that will be on display at
the Geneva Motor show. Speaking at the unveiling, François Bancon,
deputy division general manager of product strategy and product planning
division said, ’The name we have given to this concept is
self-explanatory… the key benefit of this compact car is to be
inviting.’ ’It is inviting thanks to its sensuous exterior design and
generous and comfortable interior space, cleverly packaged within
compact overall dimensions. It is Nissan’s
invitation to buyers in the compact hatchback segment.’ The Invitation
concept is expected to be launched in Europe in 2013 and in the Asian
markets the following year. When launched, the Invitation will take on
the Ford Fiesta hatch, the Hyundai i20 and Volkswagen Polo.
Design
Depending
on how close the production model will be to the concept that will be
on display at Geneva, the Invitation’s styling has fluid and nicely
sculptured lines and the swept-back headlamps with LED look stunning.
Compared to the Micra, the Invitation concept in on the other end of the
design spectrum. The large hexagonal mesh grille adds character and so
does the panoramic windscreen. On the bumper is a rectangular air dam
and the front looks sporty and aggressive at the same time with the
LED’s on the bumper. From the side the hatch looks equally attractive
with sharp lines running across it and Nissan calls one of the side
profile lines as the “Squash Line”.
Interiors
Nissan
with the Invitation is aiming to combine a cute looking compact and
agile hatchback with the cabin space of a mini SUV. According to the
manufacturer the Invitation has “a refreshingly open cabin” and has an
equipment list which will set a new benchmark in the segment like the
Around View Monitor system which uses four cameras to provide a
‘helicopter view’ for reversing and parallel parking. Then there is also
the Safety Shield system from Nissan which interacts with the driver to
keep him aware of what is happening around the car.
The dashboard
has a sporty layout with futuristic styling elements. It however
remains to be seen how many of these would be actually carried over to
the actual production vehicle. There is a riot of colours inside the
cabin and there is also an infotainment screen.
Engine
On
the Invitation Nissan is promising an ultra-frugal motor which could be
the supercharged 1-litre engine used on the Micra in some markets.
Nissan however hasn’t disclosed any details on the powerplants so we
would have to wait for the Geneva Motor show to get more clarity.
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