LA show: Cube goes global

AFTER a decade as a mostly-Asian phenomenon, the Cube goes global in its all-new, third-generation guise.

Revealed this week at the Los Angeles motor show, the self-consciously boxy five-door hatchback retains much the same visual language of its successful Z02 predecessor released in 2002.

This includes the famous/infamous square shape, asymmetrical glasshouse design (the left-hand-side profile is distinctly different to the right side), ovoid rear window ensconced within a ‘fridge door’ side-opening tailgate, and a long wheelbase relative to the vehicle’s length – with virtually no front or rear overhangs.

For the record, the Cube’s 2530mm wheelbase sits within a 3980mm-long shadow.

Nevertheless, a closer inspection reveals a very different vehicle in details, sporting a larger and stronger body and a roomier cabin featuring vastly improved quality, a ‘Jacuzzi Curve’ layout featuring lounge-style seating with a theatre-style raised rear bench that slides to and fro, and a symmetrical dashboard.

Nissan likens the head-on styling to “a bulldog wearing sunglasses”, referring to the Cube III’s redesigned face and stouter stance, underlining the increased performance and driving dynamic abilities on offer.

Other changes include a significantly larger glass area and more rounded edges.

Under the stubby bonnet is a choice if a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or a 1.6-litre dCi turbo-diesel courtesy of Renault, but other mechanical details are scarce at the moment.

Again based on the front-wheel drive Micra light-car platform (that also underpins a variety of other small Nissan and Renault models such as the Tiida and Clio), the Japanese company calls the Cube “a completely different take on an automobile – (and) a car that doesn’t want to be defined as a car.”“The designers, engineers and planners’ effort and passion in creating the next-generation Cube was unheard of – perhaps only exceeded in recent memory by that of the Nissan GT-R development team,” said Pierre Loing, Nissan’s European vice-president for product planning.

“They were constantly drawing, cartooning, adding thoughts and ideas, which is how the image of the bulldog emerged and evolved. This was not a traditional development process.”

Officially, Australia is too much of a round hole for this Cube to fit in, with the desired circa-$20,000 pricing unachievable at the moment ($25,000 seems to be the current lowest price Nissan could offer it in Oz).

However, the previous-generation model’s chunky looks and class-straddling charm somehow made this Japan-only model a cult hit in places as far afield as the UK, despite not being officially on sale there.

Now Nissan is hoping that some of the super-successful Mini’s small-car chic will rub off on the new Cube when it goes on sale in the US and Canada next year.

To that end, a much wider range of personalisation options will be available than with the current model.

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