More Small Cars on the Way from Nissan in 2008

[YSSMAN]

So, its been a big year for the small car here in the US, and apparently everyone is going to get in on it.

2008 is shaping up to be a year in which at least three boxy, compact, and quirky cars arrive at U.S. showrooms. Nissan is expected to bring its five-door Cube hatchback to North America in 2008 or 2009, according to AutoWeek. The car will become slightly more aerodynamic, but will remain boxy and quirky, as it should be. One thing that will change slightly is performance. Nissan is expected to tweak the 88 hp powerplant to provide U.S. customers with the peppy ride they expect. Pricing will probably be somewhere between $10,000 and $13,000. Meanwhile, as previously noted, Ford is expected to bring its Bronco Concept to life in 2008 or 2009. And lastly, Chrysler will likely put the Dodge Hornet Concept into production around the same time. Will U.S. buyers embrace these compact boxy economy cars? Time will tell…

BTW Americans, this is the Cube:

This is the Bronco:

This is the Hornet:

I'm excited, as these are the cars I'm going to be in the market for pretty soon.

 

[95GTIVR6]

Is the Bronco going to be around the same size as the Bronco II? Those were my favorites even if they were a POS.

Im not a huge fan of the Cube, I think Nissan would fare better if they introduced a larger hatchback to the US. Apparently they think they can take some of the sells away from Scion.

Why the Hornet when you have the new Caliber I wonder? Thats if it goes into production.

 

[ferrari_chris]

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I think the Bronco looks like a mini-Hummer. Or maybe a mini-Land Rover Defender?

A cool wee car.

 

[JohnBM01]

I'd take the Scion xB over the Nissan Cube in terms of the "boxy is sexy" deal. I'm not a Nissan guy much and not really fond of the Cube. It is still possible the Cube will sell even if the xB and such are better mini cars. Maybe some people have a soft spot for the Cube. I sort of think it looked better than the previous generation Cube. Its form and function would make it pretty good for the consumer. This car may have an uphill battle with the Scion xB and the forthcoming Honda Fit/City/Jazz. So if Nissan wants to take the cake, you players better bring your A-game. Touch gloves and fight clean.

It's been a while since the Bronco was around, eh? This deal reminds me of that "offensive" Ford truck concept. It's a rugged bastard, I'll give it that. It should be a mean machine when its production variant comes around.

The Dodge Hornet, huh? It kind of looks like something to contest against the Scion xA. I dislike the xA, but this thing I may like. That hood scoop on one side sort of reminds me of the old Suzuki Alto Works models. Seems like a cool machine. But then... there's "seems like it's cool" and "IS cool." We'll see the difference when this bad boy hits the streets.

Killed three birds with one stone... (^_^)

 

[YSSMAN]

I personally like the Cube myself, as its a bit more "spunky" than the Scion xB and Kia Rio5. Although the model pictured is nowhere near the top-line (I presume, look at the wheels), it still looks nice, better boxy look than the xB and Element.

However, Nissan has said this about the 2008 or 2009 Cube:

GENEVA -- Can a cube be streamlined?

That's the issue facing Nissan Motor Co. as it prepares to launch its quirky five-door Cube hatchback in U.S. and European markets. The car, which has not been sold outside Japan, is expected to arrive in North America in 2008 or 2009.

"We will keep the same DNA in terms of design for the next Cube," said Francois Bancon, the Japanese automaker's head of product planning and development.

"But the shape of the Cube is like a bus. You need a big engine" to give it the peppy performance demanded by U.S. and European drivers, he said.

Nissan will stay with an updated version of the Cube's current 1.5-liter, 88-hp engine, which means that performance gains will have to come from weight reduction and sleeker aerodynamics.

Keeping the Cube's quirky styling is essential, Bancon said.

"But we also have to improve the aerodynamics because, today, it is a box," he said. "Cube is a very heavy car, so we are looking at ways to make the next one a lot lighter."

The next Cube will share a re-engineered platform with the Nissan Tiida and Micra.

Bancon hinted that the Cube will carry a price premium in the U.S. market.

"The Cube is kind of a special product," he said. "There is no competition, so we expect people to be less sensitive to price positioning."

The car probably will be positioned between the entry-level Versa and the redesigned compact Sentra in the United States, Bancon said. Both of those models go on sale later this year although pricing has not been announced.

The redesigned Sentra will be priced higher than the 2006 model, which starts at $13,805, including destination.

Bancon said the Cube will be launched in the United States on a regional basis, possibly targeting the West and East Coasts first. He said global sales expectations by region, which are not yet finalized, will determine whether the Cube will be assembled in Japan, Europe or Mexico.

...So unlike the Fit, the Cube will require some changes.

 

[graveslids]

Is the Bronco going to be around the same size as the Bronco II? Those were my favorites even if they were a POS.

From the looks of the pictures the concept appears to be close to the size of the original Bronc, so yeah, not too far off dimensionally from the Bronco II either. I'm just hoping that the 2.0 litre turbo diesel makes it in. Highly doubt it given the tier II diesel regs going on line in '07/'08.

Im not a huge fan of the Cube, I think Nissan would fare better if they introduced a larger hatchback to the US. Apparently they think they can take some of the sells away from Scion.

Something more like the Tone Concept? Personally, I'm quite intrigued by the Cube, if it's better realised than the Honda Element it should do quite well. It would also be nice if Nissan could restrain from trying to market it as a "cool" vehicle. All that does is make the vehicle desirable for folks who either a) used to be "cool", or b) turns it into a dinghy vehicle to tow behind class A motor homes. Pontiac Aztec, I'm looking at you.

Why the Hornet when you have the new Caliber I wonder? Thats if it goes into production.

Caliber is a go, and not a bad one at that for an entry level car. The Hornet is still in proto/concept phase, could see it going in to production, but more than likely as a "boy racer" variant. Prime example of what I'm talking about would be the Jeep Compass / Jeep Patriot shenanigans that DCX is dropping on the buying public. Or for a less pronounced example - Chevy Cavalier vs.Pontiac Sunbird/Sunfire

 

[red70mach1]

I would like to see the the e-4WD be added in the Nissan Cube. An electric motor driving rear wheels when used in slick surfaces.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, I think the Dodge Hornet would be more of a spiritual successor to the Neon than the Caliber that replaces it. It would be small, economical, and theoretically fun to drive, hopefully less than $15,000. But, as we have seen so many times, there is a good chance that DCX will say that they are seriously considering building the car, and end up not doing so... Remember the M80? Yeah, that turned into the new Neon real quick...

(The M90 Concept, origionaly a truck-shaped replacement, later replaced by the Caliber, go figure!?)

 

[Onikaze]

Awww.

I was hoping they had greenlighted the Urge.

 

[JohnBM01]

After seeing that M90 Concept, now I really despise the Caliber. I think that small truck be better than a car-like, compact SUV. It is probably one of the first times I disliked a Dodge's looks in a while. I've only been into cars since late 1998, so there was probably worse that I may have never known. Dodge kills the Neon with a mini SUV embodied in a hatchback (perhaps a late answer to the Pontiac Vibe). Dodge needs a new compact coupe or sedan in the Neon's abscence. Or, at least wait until Chevy decides to sack the Cobalt and replace it with a smaller Chevrolet Kodiak C4500.

 

[Jim Prower]

The Cube's a good car. looks better than a Scion XB.

Not too excited about the Bronco. of course, off-road trucks don't excite me.

and the Hornet? well, perhaps an old Hudson nameplate might have some life left in her...

 

[194GVan]

cool, I like the cube, thank god we get that and not the march!

 

[YSSMAN]

...Personally, I think I would rather have the Micra than the Cube, but thats just me. I'm not the biggest fan of Nissan (or really most Japanese car companies for that matter), but I would rather have a Cube than a xB any day.

...Of course, all of this would change if VW got smart and imported the Fox or Polo to the US...

 

[GroupB]

If for some reason you weren't aware that the Bronco concept is another one of those retro vehicles, here's a picture of the original 1966-77 Bronco.

 

[Wolfe]

Awww.

I was hoping they had greenlighted the Urge.

+1

 

[Pebb]

You guys know Lotus are working a hot hatch aswell.

 

[Poverty]

You guys know Lotus are working a hot hatch aswell.

Yayyyyyy. Now we need TVR to make a hot hatch aswell. It will be heaven for us them.

 

[Tourettes Guy]

That's great... but the American's arn't gonna have much chance against cars like the xB, xA, FIT and well I guess that Cube too.

 

[YSSMAN]

...Meh, depends I guess. The Aveo is rubbish when compared to it's Japanese competition. But with Saturn merging with Opel, I makes me wonder if we are going to see cars like the Mervia, as the Corsa is now the same as the Aveo. I dont think GM, Ford, or DCX have much to worry about in the small car field... They are more worried about selling full-size sedans, SUVs, and meeting the demands for the growind Muscle/Pony car market.

 

[JohnBM01]

Unless we get it as something else, the Vectra from Opel is a nice machine. Nice in DTM, nice in America... unless that's what the Aura concept car entails.

 

[Driftster]

A Virtual pick of the litter from any # of cars that are not individuals nor appealing visually..

Horray for the USA