SHANGHAI AUTO SHOW: Next-gen Tiida unveiled

The car that will become the new-generation Tiida in China has debuted at this week's Shanghai Auto Show.

Sold in 165 counties across the globe, Tiida has been on sale in Australia since early 2006, where it has achieved more than 50,000 sales.

All-new Tiida hopes to refresh its image with a marketing campaign Nissan says it targeted at "young families who value quality life", and hasl reappointed the car accordingly to deliver 'premium and agile styling' and 'class leading comfort'.

In China, Tiida will be powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine the brand says is 'fluid and brisk', and though we can only speculate as to the mill's capacity at this stage, a Renault-derived 1.6 could be on the cards.

The shapely new hatch presents more balanced proportions than that of the outgoing model, with more attention to detail evident in the car's fascia, grille, head and tail lamps. Wheelbase grows by 100mm to extend rear legroom, while increased length and breadth of the front windscreen and 'optimally-shaped' side mirrors improve visibility.

Indoors, the new Tiida draws on the motif of 'calm and refined', its more comfortable accommodation -- including new low vibration front seats -- complemented by wide, 'super-soft' armrests. A precise, elegant instrument cluster replaces the more basic two-gauge display found in Tiida's forebear.

Nissan Australia has confirmed the new C-segment hatch for local launch in 2012 but has not fixed on committing to the Tiida nameplate. Specification and pricing details will be made available at a later stage.

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