Nissan de-contents the Versa and drops in a Euro 1.6 liter engine to price the entry-level sedan under 10 grand.
Sedan has 5-speed and no a/c
Beginning November 18th, car shoppers in the U.S. will be able to purchase a new car for $9,990 plus destination and handling (a total of $10,685). So who’s the automotive winner in the lowering-the-limbo-bar retail cost sweepstakes? None other than Nissan North America. So how were they able to accomplish this?
They started with a 1.8 S Versa and managed to de-content what is a fairly spartan (for 21st century standards) entry-level sedan. To begin with, the 1.8 liter 122 hp engine was eighty-sixed in favor of a smaller 1.6 liter 107 hp engine. Although the 1.6 liter petrol engine has been used in Versas assembled in Franklin, Tennessee in the past, these versions were reserved for export to Europe.
But wait, there’s less…
Both today’s S version and the new entry level model come standard with manual transmissions; but the S comes with a 6-speed manual while the 1.6 makes do with a 5-speed. In addition, air conditioning, standard on the “S”, is optional on the new model. Whether the air, tranny and engine are the only examples of “simplified content” (in the words of Nissan’s press release) remains to be seen – we’ll just have to wait until more information is available.
The Right Price at the Right Time
According to Nissan Sales VP Brian Carolin, “The new Versa Sedan 1.6 is another way in which Nissan is taking a leadership role in reassuring consumers that now is a great time to consider a new car. It combines the low price of a used car with the dependability, high quality and full factory warranty of every new Nissan. It’s our way of saying that in tough economic times, Nissan is here to help.”
Tags: Nissan, nissan north america, versa
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