Nissan NV200 mini-van to be China-made in '09

Shanghai, March 3 (Gasgoo.com) Nissan Motor unveiled its NV200 at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show today. The new compact van will also be showcased at next month's 2009 Shanghai Auto Show and will be produced in China by Zhengzhou Nissan within the year, auto.sina.com said, citing Nissan Motor vice president Andy Palmer.

As a commercial domestic vehicle, the NV 200 is quite popular in Europe, but it's still a newborn in China. Andy Palmer said he is confident about the NV200's prospect in the Chinese market as the new model can better meet the consumer demands in safety, comfort, status and price.

Based on the same front-wheel drive platform that underpins the Nissan Cube, the NV200 promises an economical ride. Engine choices will include a 1.6L gas engine producing 108 horsepower and a 1.5L diesel powerplant generating 85 horsepower and about 150 lb-ft of torque.

For its passenger and commercial purposes, the NV200 will come with a number of convenience features, including Nissan's Intelligent Key, power windows, ESP and an available rear-view camera-a first for the segment.

The NV200 will hit the Japanese market by mid-2009, with Europe slated to get the van by this fall. According to Andy Palmer, Zhengzhou Nissan, Nissan Motor's joint venture in China, will start to produce this small van model this year.