Nissan to go Mainstream Again in European C-Segment with a “Cheeky” 5-Door VW Golf Rival

At some point in the early 2000s, Nissan decided that it couldn’t compete with established rivals in the European C-segment. That’s why it tried a different approach: instead of replacing the less-exciting-than-watching-paint-dry Almera, it entered a parallel niche by launching the Qashqai crossover in 2006.

This strategy worked so well for Nissan that it decided to do the same with the Juke subcompact crossover in 2010. Like its bigger sibling, it capitalized on the burgeoning SUV trend and was a sales success.

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Nissan Says New Note Previews North and South American Versa Hatchback

If you had a hunch that the new Nissan Note for global markets including Japan and Europe would form the base for a replacement to the North American market Versa hatchback, you may pat yourself on the back.

The Japanese carmaker just announced that the next generation of the sub-compact Versa hatchback, which will arrive within the next year, "will receive a fresh new look that takes design cues from the new Note".

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New Nissan Note Global Compact Car: First Photos and Videos

The all-new second generation Nissan Note made its world premiere today during a special event held at the Osanbashi venue in Yokohama, Japan.

The new Note is the production version of the Invitation Concept that we first laid eyes on at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show this past March and for the most part, it has remained true to the design study.

While the previous Note was more of a small MPV, its successor has been designed to lean more towards the hatchback category.

However, compared to other superminis in the B-Segment like the Renault Clio and Ford Fiesta, it features a taller roof promising what Nissan describes as an "airy cabin" that is "beyond expectations for a car in this class".

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New Nissan Invitation Concept Previews Upcoming B-Segment Tall Hatch

Ahead of its world premiere at next month's 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Nissan has released the first official photos of an all-new concept model named Invitation.

If the tall five-door hatchback looks almost production ready, that's because the Invitation essentially previews the Japanese automaker's next mainstream B-segment contender, which will go on sale in Europe early next year alongside the Micra supermini and the Juke crossover.

Given that Nissan's European offerings in the B-segment currently includes the 8-year old Note small MPV as well, it is only logical to assume that the Invitation will most likely act as its replacement.

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2012 Nissan Note Receives Modest Updates for New Model Year

Presented in Europe in March of 2006, the Note is Nissan's offering in the popular mini-MPV segment (think Opel Meriva). In Britain alone, the Note has sold more than 100,000 units while total production at Nissan's Sunderland plant in UK has reached 427,985 vehicles since its introduction.

While there's no replacement planned for this year, Nissan has polished up the Note for 2012 with a new trim level and select styling and equipment upgrades on certain grades.

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