Frankfurt Motor Show 2005 - Nissan

What's the star of the stand?
A supermini called the Note, which Nissan is using as one of three replacements for its ageing Almera small family car.

The Note is built on a stretched Renault Modus chassis and, like the Renault, aims to add a dash of MPV flexibility into a supermini package that provides as much space as a small family car.

Nissan hopes this will catch the eye of family buyers, who will appreciate helpful features such as keyless entry and sliding rear seats.

Thanks to continued popularity in Russia, the Almera is set to continue in production until at least 2007.

They say
Nissan doesn't believe it can compete with the likes of the Ford Focus head on, so is trying to come up with a range of more innovative designs, like the Note, that will appeal to new buyers instead.

We say
The Note is basically a roomy supermini and it offers a generous amount of legroom considering the size of the car. Like most Nissans it should be well built. Buyers will be able to choose between two petrol and two diesel engine options and prices will range from £11,000-£15,000 when it goes on sale in February.

Anything else?
The final production version of the Micra supermini-based C+C convertible is also on the stands, complete with an entry-level price tag of £13,150. A glass folding roof gives sets the car apart from other models, such as the Peugeot 206CC and Vauxhall Tigra.

First deliveries of the car start in November – just in time for winter.

Any gossip?
Besides the Note and a small 4x4 based on the Qashqai concept, Nissan's third model to replace the Almera will be… another conventional small family car. Expect to see the first designs next year.