Nissan has pulled the curtains off the new Pulsar C-segment hatchback that will be competing against the Volkswagen Golf, Opel Astra and Renault Megane in the segment. Replacing the Almera hatchback in Nissan’s line-up, the new hatchback not only brings the Japanese manufacturer back into this segment, it also revives the Pulsar nameplate that has not been used in a long time. The Nissan Pulsar measures 4385 mm in length, getting a 2700 mm long wheelbase and is considerably longer than its rivals.
The 2014 Nissan Pulsar certainly looks appealing with the company’s new design philosophy. The Pulsar’a new Qashqai inspired V-shaped grilled does add a familiar and flamboyant look to the front fascia, while the wide bumper and bulbous hood give a sporty stance to the hatchback. The headlight cluster looks sharp and integrates well with the grille and gets LED headlamps. The side profile on the other hand is one of the strongest styling points for the Pulsar. The wheel arches are bold, while the raised shoulder line and belt line gives a dominant feel.
The boomerang styled tail lights make an appearance and a smartly styled bumper dawn the rear fascia of the Pulsar. On the interior front, the cabin boasts the use of premium materials and also gets improved space at the front and rear. Nissan says that the Pulsar offers more legroom and shoulder room than its rivals in the segment. The rear seats get 692 mm of knee room, which makes it more spacious than many D-segment offerings.
The Nissan Pulsar will be powered only by turbocharged engines. You get the choice of a 1.2-litre DIG-T turbo petrol engine that produces 115 PS, a 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine that produces 110 PS and a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces a fun loving 190 PS of power. The latter though will be available from next year onwards. The Pulsar will come with the option of a manual and the XTronic automatic transmissions. Nissan says that the hatchback has been designed to feel secure on the road like a Volkswagen, but have some spice on the top.
In terms of tech wizardry, the Pulsar gets Nissan’s Safety Shield package which includes forward emergency braking, moving object detection, lane departure warning system and blind sport warning. You also get the NissanConnect system with smartphone integration which allows access to variety of apps.
Nissan will be producing the new Pulsar at its Barcelona plant and the vehicle will go on sale across Europe by the end of this year, with prices to be announced upon launch. We really hope a NISMO version is also on the cards for the Pulsar. While the Nissan Pulsar is not India bound, we would really like the next generation Micra to get some styling cues from it.
