Nissan Invitation concept for Geneva 2012

Nissan has unveiled the first images of its Invitation concept, set to debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March.

The concept is said to be the “inspiration” for the Japanese manufacturer’s new compact MPV – due to be launched in Europe in 2013 – that will be sold alongside the Micra city car and Juke crossover.

The exterior of the Invitation concept looks more aggressive than the Note, the car it’s set to replace – Nissan has given the Invitation a “Squash Line” which dominates the car’s styling down its flanks.

The car’s sporting design draws inspiration from the Juke. It receives chunky front and rear bumpers with integrated LEDs and tailpipes, as well as a panoramic glass roof.

Inside, the fixed glass roof means the cabin is light and airy. A pair of sports seats feature in the front but are unlikely to see production, exchanged in favour of flat-folding items similar to those in the Nissan Note.

The concept vehicle also features Nissan’s Around View Monitor system; an industry-first safety system on a supermini that allows the driver a 360-degree view around the car during low-speed manoeuvres. Already available on some larger Nissans and Infintis it’s a very clever bit of kit.

Nissan is claiming class-leading levels of efficiency for the Invitation, thanks to the project’s lightweight platform and aerodynamic body – the firm is promising under 100g/km CO2 emissions for the most efficient model, but all variants of the eventual production car will wear Nissan’s Pure Drive efficiency-focussed boot badge.

Expect the Invitation to feature the 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol engines from the current Note, as well as the 1.5-litre turbodiesel.

The 1.2-litre supercharged three-cylinder engine from the Micra DIG-S could also be available when the Invitation makes it to production – producing just 99g/km CO2 in the Micra, the engine’s efficiency is on a par with Nissan’s targets for the Invitation.

More details next month once, the car makes its debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.