Nissan Versa about to step things up in 2011

[GapBoyPCS]

Nissan teases next-gen Versa, confirmed for U.S. via Autoblog

[FiestaFan]

It'll be an improvement over the current Versa, but I can tell from the sketch that the real thing will look fat and blobby. There's no tension in those lines.

[cosmicrhino]

I just hope they don't dumb down the styling because the concept for the current versa used to look like this Nissan Sport Concept (2005) with pictures and wallpapers

[Norm201]

When I bought my Fiesta, I was seriously looking at the Versa. After everything was said and done I choose the Fiesta. When the Nissan dealer asked why, I told him it all came down to curb appeal. The Versa has none!

[AlanBDahl]

I imagine that they are just upgrading the Versa from the Renault Clio II to the 2009+ Clio III chassis. The headlights and hood look to be straight off the Clio but the back end is very BMW 1-series like. Should look pretty nice if it's anything like the sketch. Doubt it will still be under 10k though...

[Audrey]

Originally Posted by FiestaFan

It'll be an improvement over the current Versa, but I can tell from the sketch that the real thing will look fat and blobby. There's no tension in those lines.

It's hard to visualize this car as anything less than blobby, yeah. I think it's pretty plain-jane, but their current hatchback design is at least better than some others out there. (:

[SEL4ME]

Hmmm... Wonder if it'll keep its smooth ride (albeit with admittedly mushy handling)...?

[PowerShift]

Couple real-world photos:

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Reminds me of a scaled down Grand Prix.

May be sold as Ellure in the US with a Plug-In Hybrid option:

LA Preview: Nissan's Ellure concept will be a plug-in — Autoblog Green

Don't like the name, but everything else looks promising.

[Zinky]

I wondering if they are going to drop the hatch based on the press release which only talks about the sedan. Maybe they feel that they have enough small hatches with the Cube and Juke.

[Bobby]

....the kindest thing I could say is that it made the Fiesta even more appealing!

I had a Renault 5 GTL in '83 (aka...ack!..LeCar), and really enjoyed it, it was truly unique in that oh la la oh so French way (I mean that as a compliment). The Versa is no Renault, and it's def no Clio (I drove one in Europe). What it IS is a very cheap, noisy, underpowered Japanese car with overstuffed seats and an undersprung suspension that gives a not so reasonable fascimile of a "Real" Renault..the worst of both cultural worlds from the new Franco-Japanese merger of Renault and Nissan. And, it's ugly, with a too narrow and too tall body.

The 1.6 sedan with a/c I drove lacked a radio, a curious omission, since everyone really does notice that immediately upon entering the car, leaving a really bad impression of the rest of the car..deserved or not. How much could a radio cost them? The 5 door hatch lacked a rear package shelf that would hide the cargo compartment, even though they leave the moulded in tabs there for the obviously omitted item!

There are ways to decontent a car to keet the price low, but not such obvious features....and, the thing was more than the Ford. And it didn't drive nearly as well.

Methinks they need someone there with some sense, Mr. Ghosn ain't no Mr. Mulally...