Nissan prepares for new model rush

It is looking like a busy year for Nissan in Australia. Last year the company released the GT-R, the 370Z coupe, Maxima, Murano and Dualis 4x2, but through the rest of 2010, Nissan will continue to refresh its model range with an upgrade for the Tiida (due to go on sale March 1), a new Micra, a facelifted Dualis (pictured), the seven-seat Dualis+ and facelifted and upgraded versions of the Navara and Pathfinder.

The importer has just launched the 370Z Roadster and has a lot more rounds in the magazine for the remainder of the year, beginning slowly with a mildly upgraded Murano (the Ti model gains a sunroof, among other changes for the range) next week.

According to Dan Thompson, Nissan Australia's MD, the Tiida small car's upgrade will reposition and reprice the car.

"We've rationalised the line-up, going from three grades to two grades and probably the big story is we've repositioned the car from a pricing perspective. So plenty of extra content in Tiida and the price has gone down for both ST and Ti. Ti for us, in the Tiida, needs to start delivering significantly more [sales] volumes. We've put a lot of content in the car -- leather, sunroof and all kinds of interior enhancements."

Nissan anticipates that the facelifted Dualis will be revealed to the local press within "four to six weeks", to use Thompson's words.

The Micra is due to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month and the Internet is already abuzz with spy pics and artists impressions. Thompson indicated that the light car would reach the local market near the end of this year. Geneva will also be the venue for the debut of the facelifted Dualis five-seat range and the upgraded (D40) Navara and Pathfinder. 

It's a sign of Nissan's increasing confidence in the market that the Dualis+ is slated for local launch this year, around mid-year -- not at the same time as the facelifted five-seaters, the company hastened to add. The seven-seat Dualis -- as the Qashqai -- has been on sale in Europe for some time and is built on a lengthened version of the platform that also underpins the X-TRAIL and the Renault Koleos.

And the company is also crossing its fingers for the long-awaited new-generation Patrol to reach Australia.

Looking beyond this year, the company has a definite answer from head office that the LEAF electric vehicle will go on sale in global markets, including Australia, during 2012.

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at www.carsales.mobi.