BEIJING MOTOR SHOW: Nissan Pulsar sedan unveiled

The new Nissan global small car, to be badged Pulsar in Australia, made its public debut at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show as the Nissan Sylphy, and is scheduled to arrive to Australia "next summer" says the Japanese company.

Initially thought to be arriving in January 2013, Jeffrey Fisher, Nissan's GM of Corporate Communications and Motorsport, hinted that the new Pulsar could end up being an early Christmas present, hitting our shores in late December this year.

The all-new Pulsar will be a key part of Nissan Australia's strategy to become the country's number one full-line importer -- a title currently held by Mazda -- and Fisher says the new car will rival the big sellers in the small car segment, such as the Mazda3, Holden Cruze and Toyota Corolla.

"We think it's got the market presence and the right packaging and design [to be a top seller]."

The Pulsar used to be Nissan Australia's best-selling vehicle.

The Chinese market Nissan Sylphy is powered by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine paired to a CVT and this engine could end up providing power to Australian Pulsar variants as well, though Nissan says that technical specifications will be announced closer to its launch in late 2012.

Some of the other features confirmed at the Chinese motor show include dual-zone climate control plus keyless entry and ignition. It's clear from the photography that the new model gets LED daytime running lights and brake lights.

The Sylphy press release also spruiks the "roomy cabin" and says the external design "inspires excitement and confidence".

Pulsar was sold in Australia until 2006, when it replaced by the Nissan Tiida, but the new 2013 Pulsar will reclaim its position as the company's small car offering when it arrives here late this year.

Pitched a global model, the new Nissan Pulsar will eventually be sold in 120 countries and though the Sylphy is built in China, Australian models are will be built elsewhere.

"Thailand is the likely place of manufacture for the new Pulsar," said Fisher. "It's one of the options we have, but nothing's in concrete yet."

Nissan has previously stated that it will bide its time rolling out the Pulsar range, starting with the sedan then followed by the hatch. We can also expect performance variants to arrive, and there is talk within the company of a reborn Pulsar SSS and GTI-R.

"These [performance] variants are possible down the track," stated Fisher, who suggested that it depends on how the Nismo brand develops in Australia.

"The SSS created a strong following and it's being discussed. We'd like to look at it."

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