First look: Nissan people mover makeover

NISSAN Japan has released details of its new eight-seater Presage minivan which goes on sale there this week.

The new Presage clearly borrows styling cues from the Murano and Tiida with the broad grille and strongly defined headlights.

It is available with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder or a 3.5-litre V6 engine from the famed VQ family that powers the Maxima.

Visually the Presage has a broad chrome-finish grille, deep front and rear bumpers, with bumper mounted foglights and headlights that run up into the mudguards to give it a more sophisticated and dynamic appearance.

Changes to the interior include separate, constantly lit instruments, high-mounted climate control and audio switchgear and faux silver highlights on the centre console. Both sliding rear doors are electrically operated while the rear hatch has a separate opening glass window.

Like the Maxima, the Presage also features a mix of wood-grain trim on the instrument panel in an effort to deliver a more elegant-looking car-like interior.

In keeping with some of the latest MPV coming out of Japan, the MPV has been equipped with a rear-view monitor with wider scope and a blind-spot monitoring system with better night vision.

The blind-spot monitor also allows the driver to switch between a side view and a rear view when reversing.

Nissan Japan expects to sell about 1800 a month with the van aimed at Honda Odyssey and Mitsubishi Grandis buyers.