What's the news?

Nissan has released a teaser for its new C-segment hatchback, at the same time confirming that the new car will be called the Pulsar. Following on from the recent launches of the facelifted Nissan Juke crossover and the all-new X-Trail SUV, the Pulsar is designed to tackle the Ford Focus, etc.

It has been some time since Nissan pulled out of this area of the market, but the move was then part of a larger overall strategy that has subsequently seen the firm return to a much healthier financial position. And although Nissan has proven itself as a successful maker and seller of crossover SUVs, not having a presence in what is now the second largest sector in the European car market is no longer an option.

The all-new five-door hatchback will be built at Nissan's plant in Barcelona and as the teaser image shows will have a face that is in keeping with the current design trends at Nissan. It is expected that the new Pulsar will share much of its engine technology with the current Qashqai and should feature a mix of both petrol and diesel options.

We would expect technology, such as Nissan's Safety Shield, to feature heavily throughout the range.

Anything else?

For now we will have to make do with the teaser image provided, though we won't have to wait for too long. Nissan plans to fully unveil the car on May 20th.