Nissan SA's fleet and rental sales stalwart, the Tiida, is getting on in life and what you see here is its likely replacement.
We say likely because the company's spokesperson could not confirm that this new Tiida, revealed at the Shanghai motor show today, is replacing the local Tiida; referring to the new one as a “Chinese product” and stating that no announcements for the South African market have been made as yet and that it won't be replaced this year.
So either the Tiida will be replaced by a different vehicle (which the spokesperson would not confirm) or Nissan just doesn't want Avis to know that there is a new Tiida on the horizon.
Expected to be launched in 165 countries in the next three years, this new Tiida is a more stylish prospect, that slab-sided body of the current one making way for some pleasantly creased metal. The rear end is also more distinctive, while the front (resembling a Lexus IS in some ways) imparts a sportier attitude.
Hopefully the yet-to-be-seen sedan version keeps up this good work.
The current Tiida is already renowned for its generous interior space and that's set to get better with the new one, Nissan having extended the wheelbase by 100mm, and the car is also wider.
Mechanically, the Chinese market version is powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine and Nissan is also offering a range of fuel-saving technologies such as dual injectors that spray fuel more finely and an Xtronic CVT transmission.
Furthermore, Nissan is planning to introduce 'downsized' turbocharged engines to this vehicle in certain markets.