Nissan’s answer to the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf has finally been revealed, and it’s a looker.
Powered by a 113 horsepower turbocharged 1.2L 4-cylinder gas engine or a 1.5L diesel, the Pulsar borrows its initial powertrains from the Qashqai, which shares its Common Modular Family underpinnings. Later on, a boosted 1.6L engine making 187 horsepower (shared with the Juke) will arrive (and likely be the basis for a Nismo version). Fuel economy figures haven’t been released, but the diesel should emit a Prius-rivaling 95 grams of CO2 per km.
Interior space and wheelbase are said to be tops in its class, and the Pulsar will feature the latest in active safety systems as well. Fingers crossed for this one making its way over to North America. Wouldn’t this be a nice alternative to the Sentra?
If it doesn’t have diagonal slotted tail light covers, it ain’t a Pulsar to me.
Better get that Canopy too.
Was the canopy a factory or dealer installed option? It is pretty amazing.
“If it doesn’t have diagonal slotted tail light covers, it ain’t a Pulsar to me.”
+1, Sir
And its got two too many doors as well.
Sure, just like the returning Dart and Escort, this has nothing to do with the old Pulsar. Just recycling a name.
The Pulsar names survived outside of North America, and was a pretty neat hot hatch in the 90s in Japan. http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread.php?threadid=318860
Yeah, the GTI-R and it’s SR20DET come to mind.
A looker, you say? I think it’s styling is extremely derivative of the other players in the segment. So, sure, if you think the Focus, Golf, and 3 hatches are lookers, I suppose this one is, too. However, instead of showing up fashionably late, I’d say it’s more like an also-ran.
Nissans answer to the Golf and the Focus being …
Nissan doesn’t have an answer ! Preferring rather to revive a much reviled nameplate and stick it on an excessively derivative body with Hyundai/KIA Xerox Cut & Paste philosophy of design and a pant load of pretense to go with it . Not to mention all bets are this is a Renault Megane under that non-descript body which by the way Renault cannot give away in all their markets . With the smart money being on the Pulsar following suit .
Seriously . I’m beginning to think Mssr . Ghosn has well and truly lost the plot . Which in light of him previously being only one of two auto executives worldwide that WAS seeing things clearly . Thats quite a blow as well as an ominous sign for the future of automotive manufacturing overall
It’s not a Megane. It’s an all-new architecture called CMF, which we’ve covered in the past.
What is the difference between this and Note? They seem quite similar in terms of packaging and appearance.
I would have thought (without actually knowing) the Note is on a B platform/architecture/module/whatever while this is a new C platform/etc.?
I think it’s a Note at 5/4 scale?
Lower, longer wider, with styling cues from the current design language, rather than the past one.
Looks good, probably a preview of the next Megane, if they do an Nismo version using Renault Sport parts to battle the Focus ST it could be great fun.
Thx.
Exactly how does this car fit in with the Versa and Sentra?
That was my thought. It just looks like a competitor to both of them, on a nameplate with -much- less recognition. I don’t feel it will come to NA.
Nissan is already crowding their lineup with kind of a lot o’ models.
The Pulsar name is actually the longer-recognized name compared to the Versa. Pulsar:Nissan as Dart:Dodge.
But, it’s less recent (and shorter in span) than Sentra, and much less recent than Versa. Either way, Nissan wouldn’t be dropping either name to use Pulsar!
Yay!
Happy Fun Analogy Time!
Not a looker at all to me. Hopefully its better in person. The Golf and Fiesta I think are much better looking. I would rate them as some of the best looking cars on the road, but this is down in the average zone to me.
I like it. It’s a bit of life added to a line that sorely needs it, and probably the closest thing to a good Renault we’ll see in the States.
So it’s a very slightly more powerful, but almost certainly more expensive Versa Note. The only question I have is “why?” This doesn’t make any sense to me until the Juke engine is offered.
B segment vs. C segment. The Note plays against the Fit, Fiesta, and Polo. This would face the Golf, Focus and Civic.
I think it’s sharp looking. But 113hp and (I assume) one of their horrible CVTs? I’d rather ride the bus.
It will come with a 6-speed manual. Who cares for CVTs?
Nissan’s real future focus is on technology and providing innovative safety, design, fuel economy and environmental solutions to its new cars like Pulsar.
You’ve just described every car manufacturer.
You’re kidding, Nancy!
Get right outta town!
Drop that 1.6 in it and sell it for $20k and I bet it’ll get some attention.
What a bland car, the Chinese Tiida looks way more exciting than these, and the interior seems to be mediocre as well. I hope the next Megane looks way nicer than this, otherwise Renault is screwed.
It’s a looker BUT only relative to its siblings. The Fit-alike Versa Note is okay, but the saggy Versa and Sentra… ((shudder))
Most likely this car will come to the US with the 1.6 or better still a 2.0 liter (or both). My guess is it will compete with the Mazda 3, perhaps more so than the Golf and Focus. The hatchback in this C segment has really come of age and, I think, will grow it’s market share in the US. I believe we are already seeing this trend.
So what happens to the Australian Pulsar(Tiida)? Sell along side it?