New Nissan Almera hatchback to get 'conventional' looks

Nissan's Volkswagen Golf-rivalling hatchback will bring back the Almera name, but will retain conventional styling, say bosses

These latest spy shots show the new Nissan Almera testing
The new five-door model will be built in Spain
Production of the new Almera is set to begin in July next year
Although not yet officially called the Almera, the model is set to revive the name for Nissan
Nissan says getting the new car right is "not an easy or quick answer"
The company says the popularity of the Qashqai has bought it time to develop the Almera
Nissan says beating established class leaders like the Golf won't be a styling challenge
As well as the Golf, the new Almera will face competition from the Ford Focus
The new car has been designed exclusively in Europe
Nissan says cars in this class need to look conventional
With that in mind, it's expected that the Almera won't include a radical design
Meanwhile, the Qashqai is expected to become more radical
Nissan says it 'cannot just be a crossover brand'

by Jim Holder

18 November 2013

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These spy shots show the first test mules for Nissan’s upcoming Volkswagen Golf-rivalling hatchback.

The new five-door model will be built at Nissan’s Barcelona plant from July 2014, and is tipped to revive the Almera name.

Nissan design chief Shiro Nakamura said: “We cannot just be a crossover brand. We can make the Almera work. Getting it right is not an easy or quick answer, but the results of the Qashqai have bought us time.

“We can get it right, and that means standing up to some of the toughest opposition. Beating the Golf won’t be a styling challenge; it is more complex than that. These kinds of cars need to look conventional.”

It has also been confirmed that the new Almera will be designed exclusively for Europe.

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Comments

A34

Simple recipe...

18 November 2013

Conservative styling + reliability + reasonable kit + efficient engines + good pricing ... Shouldn't be too difficult?

sirwiggum

Almera was much missed by

18 November 2013

Almera was much missed by some - Ireland for example, had the Nissan Tiida imported (some dealers in Scotland also grey imported this). Russia gets an attractive saloon as the Almera, a rebadged Sylphy. I'll hold my breath for the new Bluebird / Primera...

Andrew Lee

???

18 November 2013

So people will want this rather than a Golf/Focus/Astra/Civic/308/Megane because??? Nissan should expect dismal sales figures to be revived along with the Almera name.

Marc

Why bother with the

18 November 2013

Why bother with the camouflage, nobody cares...........

Merod

Why bother launching this at all?

18 November 2013

What a waste of effort on a uber crowded and boring segment ..... unless they call it the Sunny and build a GT-R!

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