It won’t be long before Nissan takes the wraps of the North American market 2012 Versa, but the Japanese company offered us our first glimpse of the sub-compact model with the reveal of the new Tiida hatchback at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show today. As some of you may already know, the Versa is sold in numerous markets around the world under the Tiida nameplate.

The new generation of Nissan’s best selling model sports a swoopier exterior design with some styling references to the pure-electric Leaf. The fluid theme is carried over to the interior with a floating center cluster. The Japanese company also promises improved passenger space thanks to the 100mm (3.9-in.) longer wheelbase.

Nissan has not yet released detailed information on the powertrain lineup, but the company said the Tiida will be offered with a turbocharged four-cylinder unit while transmission options will include a CVT.

The Chinese-market version of the new sub-compact model will be produced in the Dongfeng Nissan Huadu Plant in Guangzhou, with domestic sales to start in May 2011. Nissan said that following its introduction in China, the Tiida will be launched in approximately 130 countries around the world by 2014.

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