Nissan has begun work on the all-new Sunny sedan that is likely to come to India sometime in 2018. It will be based on the new Micra hatchback (K14) but will feature an extended wheelbase for more legroom.
The new Sunny, like the current car, will be a global model and will be sold in both left- and right-hand drive markets alike, where it is also known as the Almera or the Versa. While the car will be based on the latest version of the V platform for the international markets, the India-spec new Sunny will be underpinned by Nissan’s cost competitive CMF architecture.
The new car, however, won’t be stretched to the same extent as the current Sunny. What Nissan is looking for, insiders claim, is a better balance between space and agility; something that should help the sedan take on competition like the Honda City. It will also rival the likes of the new Hyundai Verna and the popular Maruti Ciaz.
When it comes to engines, the new Sunny’s mainstay will be the group’s new 106hp, 1.5-litre petrol unit launched recently on the Duster. Nissan’s X-Tronic CVT automatic gearbox is expected to be carried over and, though many customers may miss it, there won’t be a diesel.
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