Nissan has unveiled its latest INVITATION concept at the Geneva Motor Show. The concept previews a small hatchback that will slot in between the Micra and the Juke on the Old Continent.
The name INVITATION is curious, but Nissan says that it was the obvious choice for several reasons.
“The name we have given to this concept is self-explanatory. It is designed to be inviting thanks to its sensuous exterior design and generous and comfortable interior space, cleverly packaged within compact overall dimensions,” explained Nissan’s François Bancon.
The INVITATION has an aggressive look thanks to its heavily-sculpted body. The front of the car is fitted with LED headlights and an imitation mesh grille, two features that are unlikely to be found on the production-bound model. However, the big windshield similar to the one found on the Citroën C3 will probably be retained and offered as an option.
No word was spoken about what engines will power the hatchback, but the Japanese company is hoping that the cleanest-burning version will achieve CO2 emissions of under 100 grams per kilometer. Regardless of CO2 emissions, all INVITATION models will be eligible to wear Nissan’s Pure Drive badge, a distinction that is typically reserved for the least-polluting members of the company’s lineup.
Nissan promises that the INVITATION will be packed with high-tech features that are usually found in bigger and more expensive cars. One of them is the brand’s Around View Monitor, a system pioneered in 2007 that uses four cameras and a dash-mounted screen to give the driver a complete view of what is around the car.
The production version of the INVITATION is scheduled to hit showrooms across Europe in 2013.
