Nissan thinks small

Unlike typical Japanese practice, the company revealed details on a handful of new compact cars and its supporting engine strategy.

At what was supposed to be the Japanese launch of the Murano crossover SUV last year, President Carlos Ghosn of Nissan, soon to be CEO-elect of Renault, made the day an unusual one. Instead of introducing just that single model, Ghosn unveiled five more to be launched in quick succession within five months-an unprecedented onslaught in the Japanese domestic market where new model information is jealously guarded until the very last minute.

Four of these new models are compact cars on the B and C platforms that are a product of the Franco-Japanese alliance. Nissan launched the March/Micra small car as the first vehicle on the jointly developed small car B platform. Renault is now launching its first vehicle on this platform, the Modus introduced at last year's Paris Motor Show. Three of Nissan's new models, the Tiida hatchback, Tiida Latio sedan, and Note/Tone small minivan are based on the stretched version of the B platform. Conversely, Renault preceded with the C platform-based Megane compact car series, with Nissan following with its own C platform-based minivan, the Lafesta.