When Nissan created the Qashqai seven years ago, it did so because its existing C-segment hatchback - the Almera - was so underwhelming that it... er... oh. We've forgotten what we were saying. Sorry. And so successful has the Qashqai crossover been that you'd have to say the Japanese firm has been vindicated in its decision to abandon the traditional Golf market. So, with the second-gen Qashqai and facelifted Juke models winning plaudits everywhere, say hello to the Pulsar - Nissan's new C-segment hatch. Surprising stuff.
Exterior
The Pulsar name stretches right back to the Datsun days of the 1970s, although our versions were variously called Cherry or Sunny. The Pulsar wears the corporate V-grille that's been seen on the aforementioned Qashqai and new X-Trail SUVs, while its curvy lines have been 'designed and engineered' for Europe, with all of them built at Nissan's Barcelona plant. It's reasonably compact at 4,385mm long and Nissan further says the Pulsar is 'characterised by bold wheel volumes, a tapered waistline and a flowing profile'. The Pulsar will also use LED headlamps that emit a beam of electromagnetic radiation at an absolutely set frequency... only kidding. Although it will use LED headlamps.
Interior
Nissan is fitting a lot of tech to the new Pulsar - such as moving object detection, emergency braking, warning systems for lane departure and blind spots, plus second-generation NissanConnect with various apps, compatibility and features - in a bid to make it feel more upmarket. So all the interior materials are claimed to be 'confident and premium', while the longest wheelbase in its class (at 2,700mm) allows more leg- and shoulder-room for rear-seat passengers; Nissan says the 692mm of rear knee room puts the Pulsar ahead of some D-segment cars.
Mechanicals
All Pulsars will be turbocharged and the engines are largely similar to Juke/Qashqai offerings. There's a 115hp 1.2-litre DIG-T petrol and a 110hp 1.5-litre dCi diesel with 260Nm from launch, while a more powerful 190hp 1.6-litre petrol unit will drop into the line-up in early 2015. So far, the only transmission mentioned is the 'automatic' Xtronic, which is really a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), but admittedly one of the better CVTs out there. Nissan is awaiting final homologation on its engine range but CO2 emissions are said to be less than 95g/km.
Anything else?
Mention of the 190hp DIG-T engine makes us already wonder if Nissan is about to strengthen its performance portfolio and revive a model we'd love to see a 21st century version of: the Pulsar GTi-R. Hmm, all-wheel drive, over-the-top wings and spoilers, in excess of 350hp, a dual-clutch gearbox - just imagine it!