WOW - 2 SMALL CARS UNDER 10K

 Small cars aren’t always cheap; increasingly, automakers are breaking that link with well-equipped and desirable compacts and subcompacts. Nor are small cars always green though here’s often a correlation.

Now Nissan has said it will bring not one but two sub-$10,000 cars to the U.S. The company didn’t name them, but they are to be based on the same mechanicals as the well established Micra mini-car–smaller than the current Versa subcompact–sold in Asia and Europe.

Nissan’s cheapest current U.S. model is a special base version of its 2010 Nissan Versa, with a sticker starting at $9,990. It makes do with a 1.6-liter engine and a five-speed manual, and dispenses with even such standard equipment as a radio and electric windows.

WOW!!  8 NEW MODELS!!

Nissan listed eight new or modified vehicles it will introduce by the end of January 2011 — including another attempt at the minivan market with a replacement for the recently discontinued Quest minivan. 

Nissan will remain in the full-size truck business and is developing a replacement for the Titan big pickup.

The list of new models also includes a new version of the QX56, a full-size SUV based on Titan, due this summer. 

The new models: 

Infiniti M37 six-cylinder and M56 V-8 coming this spring.

Fortieth anniversary model of the 370Z sports car, also this spring.

Infiniti QX56 SUV, summer.

Nissan Juke, a small crossover SUV, on sale in September. More details in February, Nissan said — which probably means the Chicago auto show held next month. 

Unnamed Infiniti model with this conflicting designation: “All-new derivative model.” It’ll feature different powertrain, features and equipment than currently found in whatever model from which it will be derived.  

Nissan NV 2500, a full-size commercial van along the lines of Ford’s Econoline, on sale in November. It’d be the company’s first product for the U.S. commercial market.

Leaf, Nissan’s battery-electric car, due in some markets in December.

Nissan Quest minivan, next January. More conventional this time. The market disliked the adventuresome styling of the past model, which Nissan quit building last year because of slow sales. 

Contact us HAWKINSON NISSAN in the Matteson Auto Mall for more details