The new Nissan Sunny has been rolled out in China at the Guangzhou International Motor Show. It will be sold around the world under different nameplates, likely forming the basis for the next-generation Versa in North America.

Underneath the new design, Nissan has given the car a 1.5L engine, hooked up to an Xtronic CVT transmission. They also claim that the suspension makes “for sporty and agile driving at low speeds, and steady and stable driving at higher speeds.”

Chinese pricing for the Sunny will begin at 82,800 Chinese yuan (About $12,460 USD), and go up to 112,800 yuan (About $17,000 USD).

Press Release

Nissan Unveils New Global Sedan at the 8th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today unveiled an all-new sedan model at the 8th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition. Using the famed ‘Sunny’ name in China, this new model will go on sale first in China in January 2011 and then progressively across 170 countries worldwide under different vehicle brand names.

The Nissan Sunny was first introduced in China in 2003 and was significant as the first locally built model from the new Dongfeng Nissan partnership. Acclaimed by consumers for its combination of quality, space and driving performance, the Sunny quickly help establish a foundation for the Nissan brand in the passenger vehicle market in China.

A projected class leader in fuel economy, the all-new Sunny is expected to appeal to young families in their 30s looking for a medium sized sedan that combines a dynamic upscale design with the space, quality and features associated with the Sunny and Nissan brand.

Combining the proven Nissan 1.5-liter HR15DE engine with dual injectors and a new-generation Xtronic CVT with an auxiliary transmission, both of which are newly introduced in China, Sunny delivers ease in handling for city driving where there’s frequent acceleration and deceleration, and superior environmental performance as a projected class leader in fuel economy.

MacPherson struts are used for the front suspension and a torsion beam for the rear suspension, making for sporty and agile driving at low speeds, and steady and stable driving at higher speeds.

The new Sunny will be produced in Dongfeng Nissan’s Huadu Plant in Guangzhou and will be priced from RMB 82.8K to 112.8K (1.04 million – 1.41million yen).

Highlights at the Nissan booth:

[Teana]
Refreshed in November, the new Teana sports a modified exterior, including front grille, front bumper, rear combination lamps and wheels and detailed interior changes to areas such as the cluster and meters. Teana retains the combination of a V6 engine with X-tronic CVT. Environmental and safety features include the addition of an eco-drive support function, an emergency rescue service and CARWINGS Navigation Service.

The price ranges from RMB 190K to 370K (2.4 million – 4.66 million yen).

[Nissan LEAF]
The 100 percent electric, zero-emission Nissan LEAF will be another highlight at the show. A feasibility study for Nissan LEAF is planned for China and will be conducted by Nissan and the People’s Government of Wuhan for a 2011 pilot program.

Highly acclaimed by customers all over the world as new mobility for a sustainable zero-emission society, Nissan LEAF has won the European Car of the Year 2011.

Nissan LEAF is being released in Japan and the United States this month and is scheduled for release in select European markets in early 2011.

Nissan’s product lineup will promote sustainable mobility through zero-emission vehicles, such as the Nissan LEAF and a range of PURE DRIVE low-emission technologies.

[Other]
Also on display at the Nissan booth will be a wide range of Nissan’s product lineup, including the multi-performance super car, the Nissan GT-R and the recently introduced March compact car.

About Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Company (Dongfeng Nissan)
Dongfeng Nissan is an affiliated company of Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd., Nissan’s joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Group. Dongfeng Nissan includes research & development operations, manufacturing and distribution of passenger vehicles.

Nissan Business in China
Since the establishment of DFL, Nissan’s sales volume, including both passenger and light commercial vehicles, has risen dramatically from 94,000 units in 2003 to 756,000 units in 2009. Nissan also launched its luxury brand, Infiniti, in China in 2007.

Nissan’s sales are forecasted to exceed 1,000,000 units in 2010 compared to the original plan of 860,000 units, including passenger and light commercial vehicles, along with Infiniti products. Nissan expects to sell 1,150,000 units in 2011.

Note: Amounts in Japanese yen are translated for the convenience of the reader at the foreign exchange rate of RMB 1 per 12.6 Japanese Yen.

Source: Nissan