Sun rises on Nissan's next small sedan

Nissan has revealed an all-new small sedan at this year's China International Automobile Exhibition. The Micra-based light car uses the well-known 'Sunny' nameplate in China and will go on sale there from January.

Eventually earmarked for sale in 170 countries across the globe, Sunny will also make its way to Australia; though will likely be sold under a different badge.

Earlier this year, Nissan Australia's Managing Director & CEO Dan Thomson told the Carsales Network of the company's plans to introduce a three-box Micra Down Under -- the light car's modular platform readily lending itself to such an arrangement. Basing its business case on the growing success of light sedan models both in Asia and locally, Micra sedan will compete against rivals such as Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta, Holden Barina, and Mazda2.

Nissan speculates that Sunny will be a class leader in fuel economy and is aimed at young families who require a compact package with clever space utilisation, quality features and reliable origins.

The small sedan will utilise Nissan's proven 1.5-litre HR15DE four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a new-generation version of the brand's Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT). Sunny is suspended by MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam rear.

The new Sunny will be built at Dongfeng Nissan's Huadu Plant in Guangzhou for the Chinese market.

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