Nissan's all-new Note

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Jazzy Note
Bangkok Post: Published: 20/07/2012 at 02:25 AM Newspaper section: Life 

Nissan has unveiled a direct competitor to Honda based on the March/Almera platforms

- It looks so much like the Jazz...

Partially, that's because Nissan's all-new Note (formerly called Tone in Japan) is a direct rival to the Honda Jazz boasting an MPV-like exterior body and interior versatility.

Technically speaking, the Note is the third body based on the brand's V-platform that underpins today's March hatchback and Almera saloon.

If you look at the Note's interior picture on this page, you can spot many shared parts like the door levers, air-con vents and controls, gear lever and steering wheel. However, the Note is aimed primarily at the European and Japanese markets where products need to be more sophisticated. The Note was first previewed as the Invitation concept car earlier this year at the Geneva motor show.

- Will the Note go on sale in Thailand?

 
Many interior bits are sourced from March/ Almera.
At the world premiere in Japan this week, Nissan only mentioned that the Note will be made in Japan this year and in the UK starting early next year.

Both the countries were also home to the March (Micra in Europe) before production was moved to Thailand where they are made under Ecocar rules.

Whether the Note will go on sale in Thailand is still too early to say. According to Life sources, production capacity at Nissan's Thai plant is tight.

Some of the Navara's production, for instance, has been shifted to Mitsubishi's plant in Chon Buri, while the March/Almera Ecocars are still in strong demand.

And within the next six months, Nissan will start assembly of the new Sylphy saloon and Tiida hatchback for the C-segment.

- But the Jazz is going hybrid in Thailand...

Yup, the Honda Jazz Hybrid will be launched in Thailand on July 27, thus raising the bar in the B-segment with its 1.3-litre petrol-electric hybrid (it isn't deemed a full hybrid like the Prius, though).

With a fuel economy rating of 23kpl under the European cycle (30kpl if using the optimistic Japanese standard), the Jazz Hybrid is a lot more frugal than the March/Almera.

We'll come back to that after a test drive set for early next month.

Because of that, the Note could finally provide Nissan with a riposte to Honda. There's a more frugal engine than the 1.2-litre three-cylinder motor used in the March/Almera.

With a supercharger and direct-injection strapped to the 1.2, power goes up from 79hp to 95hp yet economy improves from 20kpl to 25.2kpl.

- It appears that the Note will be kept as future arsenal...

Uh-huh, that seems to be the case, given the current state of competition in Thailand.

In fact, it has always been like this. Good products go to the developed world first unfortunately, and only when necessary do they come to Thailand at some later stage.