The Nissan offered in the People's Republic of China is similar to the Nissan Versa 1.6 in that there's no option for the 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. Nissan could put the 1.8-liter engine in the PRC Tiida and they'd go nuts over the performance. Here they would have to offer a bit more to the vehicle, maybe a transplant from the Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, than paint and a sweet badge. Given the existence of the Sentra SE-R and move to make the Versa cheaper we're not holding our breath. [China Car Times]

Nissan Full-Size Truck

We know that that this upcoming truck will be a replacement for the Nissan Titan that is based on the 2009 Dodge Ram. No decisions have been made regarding the powertrain options, though Nissan VP of Corporate Communications Frederique Le Greves made it clear that Dodge-sourced engines weren't off the table. The hybrid drive system jointly developed by GM/Chrysler/Daimler/BMW is also still on the table, though no decisions have been made on the use of that engine.

The reasons for the change? The company looked at a market for full-sized trucks that dropped from 2.5 million units in 2004 to 2.1 million units this last year. Since it is a rather large market they want to compete but by partnering with Chrysler they save themselves development costs.

There's also no word on whether they're going to keep the truck's current name of Titan, or try something else. However, Le Greves did say that the truck is being called the "next generation Titan" internally.

Chrysler Small Car

There are maddeningly few details regarding Chrysler's new small car other than it'll be built in the Nissan Oppama Plant, which builds most of Nissan's small cars (March, Cube, Cube Cubic, Tilda, Tilda Latio, Note and Bluebird Slyphy). Which platform will they use? On one hand, Nissan is bringing the Cube to the United States and it could make sense to base it on a platform that's going to be utilized here. On the other hand, Dodge is already planning on using a version of the Versa/Tilda platform in South America for sale there next year. In a conference call with Chrysler's Tom LaSorda, he indicated that the car was already designed, which makes us wonder if Chrysler knows what platform it is going to use. At this point there are too many uncertainties to say for sure.

[Thanks to Mike Levine from PickupTruck.com for setting it up.]

Though the ad above isn't the truly offensive commercial, it's one of four featuring the former "Sex and the City" siren and sex-pot that've been pulled from the New Zealand market by Nissan over complaints they're overly sexual. In the double-entendre laced ad we unfortunately don't have, Cattrall gushes to a car salesman:

"Why didn't you tell me it was so big, I just wasn't prepared for it? The all-new Nissan Tiida makes you feel really, really, really good inside. Ah! That was amazing. Absolutely fabulous! I mean the great body and the way you moved it."

New Zealand's actually pretty lucky. They missed the "Directors Cut" of the commercial where the salesman then goes around to the back of the car and spanks it. Nissan's saving that one for the Aussie market.

Nisan Pulls Hot Car Ad With Kim Cattrall [ABC News]

Related:
Ad Watch: Nissan Exec Blasts Industry — Calls Industry "Black" And Forgets It's The Pot [internal]