STYLISH NEW NISSAN ALMERA TAKES A BOW

The new Almera, which will go on sale in Spring 2000, will be unveiled to the public at a special ceremony to be held on 13 September, the eve of the 1999 Frankfurt Motor Show. The Almera is the product of a multi-million euro investment in Nissan�s European design, development and manufacturing facilities, and confirms the importance of the European C-segment to Nissan�s global business.

Designed specifically for the European market, the new Almera is the third model to be manufactured at Nissan's plant in the UK, and joins the new-generation Primera and Micra ranges. Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd (NMUK) has been independently rated as Europe�s most efficient and productive plant.

"The Almera is a very significant new model for our European business," said Sir Ian Gibson, President of Nissan Europe. "The C-segment is the biggest in Europe, and models in this sector often define the personality of the brand. It is the first time Nissan has had a European-built contender here, and it will accelerate the communication of our brand values," he added.

Power comes from a new range of multi-valve engines from 1.5 to 2.2 litres. The Almera also debuts Nissan�s passenger-car direct injection diesel technology. Manufactured at Nissan�s Cuatro Vientos plant in Madrid, the advanced new four-cylinder 16-valve unit is expected to account for up to 25 per cent of total Almera sales, and will later be applied to other Nissan models in Europe.

Recognising the need for bolder styling and stronger identity in Europe, the new Almera reflects extensive research in key countries and the input of Nissan�s design facilities in Germany and the UK. The result successful we feel. Although there is more than a hint of the latest Honda Civic and Mazda 323, the car has a meaty stance and the styling should turn heads.

The unveiling of the new Almera marks the arrival of the second of a series of new Nissan model introductions planned for the coming months. It follows the launch of the new generation Primera, which is now in full production at NMUK in Sunderland. Next summer Nissan will launch the Tino, an MPV derivative of the new Almera, which will be manufactured at the Nissan Motor Iberica plant in Barcelona, and also previewed at this year�s Frankfurt Motor Show.

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