NISSAN'S European assembly lines will build higher volumes of the Micra, Almera and Primera ranges over the next few years, pledged executive vice-president Patrick Pelata at the Tokyo Motor Show. 'Output will be a lot higher than it is today because all our research findings show no sign of a likely drop in demand for cars across the European market,' he said.

As an ambitious drive started to revive the carmaker's fortunes, the former Renault official now responsible for product planning, design and strategy promised Nissan's highly-acclaimed British factory would continue to operate three manufacturing lines. 'There is no question of having less than three cars at Sunderland. It's the best car plant in Europe and we should just keep on using it as much as possible,' he declared. Pelata told a press conference that next-generation Nissans would have stronger styling.

'Our aim is to replace blandness with styling that represents perceived quality. There is nothing wrong with the quality of a Nissan, but we must work to make it more obvious,' he said. Nissan has also revealed that its relationship with Renault will bear its first engineering fruits with the next Clio/Twingo/Micra that will all share a common platform.