A new Nissan Almera designed for the Russian car market has been unveiled today at the Moscow motor show.
Built on the new Renault-Nissan production line in Togliatti, Russia, the Almera is a four-door, five-seat saloon designed to withstand the extreme weather conditions experienced in Russia.
As a result, the Almera features an enhanced chassis, thicker steel and a strengthened upper body structure to ensure it can withstand the tough road and weather conditions. It has an extended ground clearance of 160mm (reduced to 145mm at the steel plate that covers the engine).
The Almera will be powered by Nissan’s 1.6 litre, 16-valve petrol engine which delivers 102bhp and 107lb ft of torque. It will be available with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox. It is 4656mm long and has a wheelbase of 2700mm – the longest in its class.
Nissan claims the interior is notably larger than class rivals and features a 500-litre boot. There is also space for a full-sized spare wheel. The car will be available in three trim levels – Welcome, Comfort and Tekna.
The Almera, which hasn’t been part of Nissan’s UK model range since the mid-2000s, will go on sale in Russia in early 2013.
Ashleigh Morris
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The need to keep prices down
The need to keep prices down is a good point, as is the one about emissions standards. Bear in mind that even with the Lada saloon out of production there are still a great many vehicles being made with much older technology than this car, such as the UAZ 469 and commercial vehicles, so this will likely be considered more than acceptable. I don't think the styling's a result of 'stylish design costing more' though to be fair, given that that's not neccessarily the case (although a more complex body design would cost more, but that doesn't neccessarily mean better looking), I think it's just that in Russia, fairly conventional, conservative by Western European standards, saloon designs remain popular and sell well, so why try and force anything else on a public that wouldn't want it?
So finally the 2nd generation
So finally the 2nd generation Japanese market Bluebird Sylphy is badged the Almera! This car entered the market in 2005!
Ah well....
Old School
Seems very old fashioned compared to most modern european hatchbacks, they could easily have unveiled this 10-years ago and it would have looked current then. The 102PS N/A 1.6 petrol sounds particularly last decade...
Keeping in mind...
You need to keep in mind that this car is exclusively for Russia, where salaries are low and emission standards are only EU3.
Giving a budget compact sedan lots of technology (turbochargers, direct-injection, dual-clutch, etc) and a stylish design would drive prices upwards.