Nissan begins Almera countdown

Nissan has commenced the countdown to the Australian release of its all-new Almera city sedan in August by staging a media preview of the Micra-based four-door today in Sydney.

No new information was revealed for the Almera , which made its global debut at the China International Automobile Exhibition in 2010 and will be the second of eight new or additional Nissan models to arrive Down Under within the next two years.

However, new Nissan Australia CEO Bill Peffer told motoring.com.au prior to the Sydney reveal that the Almera would play a small but significant role in the brand’s model portfolio, as the first of three new sedan offerings to be launched here by the end of next year.

Mr Peffer said the Almera sedan will be a key new model in Australia’s relatively small light-sized sedan segment, which accounts for only around 10 per cent of the total light-car market.

“We’ll get out fair share – it will be double-digit (percentage) figures,” he said. “We haven’t played in that segment before, so it’s a big opportunity for Nissan. Almera will be a good complement to Micra.”

Last year Nissan sold more than 9500 Micras (up 14 per cent on 2010 figures) for a 7.3 per cent share of the light segment, making it Australia’s sixth best selling light-car behind the Mazda2 (13.5 per cent), Toyota Yaris (12.5 per cent), Suzuki Swift and Ford Fiesta (both 9.5 per cent) and Hyundai’s now-discontinued Getz (8.8 per cent).

The Almera will join only a handful of other sedans in the light segment, including the Yaris, Barina, Fiesta, Honda City, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio and Proton S16.

Mr Peffer described the Almera’s arrival as the beginning of a “sedan renaissance” for Nissan, which will release two further four-door models next year - the small Pulsar (sedan and hatch) to replace the slow-selling Tiida in January and the large sedan-only Altima to succeed the Maxima.

“Almera won’t be our biggest selling sedan. By the end of next year Nissan will have three bona-fide new sedan offerings in the B, C and D segments,” he said.

The Almera is known as the Sunny in some markets and the Versa in North America. Confusingly, Almera was also the European export-market name applied to the previous Pulsar, which was replaced by the Tiida here in 2006.

Nissan says value for money, attractive exterior design and exceptional interior space will be key features of its all-new entry-level sedan, which will be produced in Thailand.

To be preceded by the Australian launch of the all-electric LEAF hatch in June, the Almera will play a key role in Nissan’s ambition to replace Mazda as Australia’s top-selling full-line importer.

“With Pulsar sedan and hatch and the all-new Altima set to reach Australia in 2013, Nissan is strengthening its passenger car range as we seek to reach our target of becoming the number one importer in the Australian car market,” said Mr Peffer, who replaced Dan Thompson as Nissan Australia CEO on April 1.

The Almera’s August release will be followed by the launch of the redesigned Patrol SUV in December, the Pulsar in January and the Altima in late 2013. Apart from introducing its Infiniti premium brand here in August, by the end of next year Nissan will also launch replacements for its volume-selling X-TRAIL compact SUV, Pathfinder medium SUV and Navara ute models.

The Almera is based on the new ‘V’ (for versatile) global front-drive compact platform developed by Nissan and its industrial ally Renault. The first V model to appear was the fourth-generation ‘K13’ Micra launched here in December last year.

Nissan is yet to announce Almera pricing, which may or may not represent a premium over the five-door Micra, but it is likely the sedan will be positioned as a more upmarket four-door alternative to the Micra by offering more standard equipment.

While the Almera’s interior resembles that of the Micra’s, it comes wrapped in a much larger and more conservative body design.

Overseas versions of the Almera, which rides on a 2535mm wheelbase, measure 4495mm long, 1695mm wide and 1445mm high. The Micra, meantime, rides on a shorter 2435mm wheelbase and measures 3780mm long, 1665mm wide and 1525mm high.

It remains to be seen which engines will be available in Australia’s Almera, but it is unlikely the entry-level Micra’s 1.2-litre mill will be offered in the more upmarket sedan, which should be made available here with either the Micra’s larger 1.5 or the 1.6-litre engine it employs in some overseas markets.

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