Nissan Cube is a mini MPV produced by Nissan and sold only in Japan. It is scheduled to be released in the American and Canadian markets in Spring 2009 and European market in Q4 2009.
The third generation Nissan Cube was revealed for the first time at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, on November 19, 2008. While this is the third generation of the vehicle, it is being offered in the North American market for the first time. The Cube is scheduled to go on sale in the US and Canada April 2009.
The updated Nissan Cube features more rounded and curved styling cues than its predecessors. This evolution is most striking in the rear bumper area, in the asymmetrical rear window, which wraps around to the passenger side, and in the oval-shaped driver and front passenger windows.
Seating capacity remains at five. According to Nissan designers, the interior is inspired by the enveloping curves of a Jacuzzi to promote a comfortable and social atmosphere. Design cues include a water ripple motif that appears in the headliner and is repeated in details like the speaker covers and cup holders. Nissan has developed an extended line of accessories for Cube to encourage personalization. These include multicolor appliqués that can be placed around air vents and window switches, utility hooks and elastic bands in different colors, accent lighting for the footwell and cup holders, and a piece of shag carpet that sits in a shallow well on the top of the dash.
The third generation Cube is built on Nissan’s front-wheel-drive B platform and powered by a 122-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, both of which are used for the Versa. It’s available with a 6-speed manual transmission or Nissan’s automatic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). Cube is expected to get 30+ miles per gallon.
Nissan provided visitors at the 2008 LA Auto show with a brochure featuring the car using augmented reality technology. The brochure is held up to a webcam of which various 3D models of the vehicle will pop out offering views of the car's exterior and interior in real-time interaction with the brochure.
