Japanese Car

Nissan's Zaroot concept, which will go on display at the Geneva Show, is every bit as aggressive-looking as you could hope for in an SUV, but that's not what attracts attention to it. As our picture shows, the Zaroot's unique selling point is the fact that it has gullwing doors.

This is part of Nissan's vision "of how sporty SUVs could look in the future". Not the very near future, though. Don't expect to see an off-roader with gullwing doors in your local showrooms any time soon.

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Rather perversely, Subaru's stand at the Geneva Motor Show - Europe's most celebrated annual automotive showcase - will include to models which the company does not intend to sell in Europe. Or at least not at the moment.

In fact Subaru says that "market research studies are about to begin to gauge public reaction". But even if the R1 (pictured) gets European customers stomping their feet and demanding to be able to buy examples of their own, it's unlikely that Subaru will be able to make the numbers add up.

The R1 is a two-seater aimed at the unique Japanese K-car market. It has the largest engine permissible under K-car regulations, at 660cc, plus four-wheel drive and continuously variable transmission, all of it contained in a streamlined body which, Subaru says, has been "described as resembling an eggshell".
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Nissan has confirmed that its new crossover vehicle - part MPV, part hatchback, and based on the Qashqai concept featured at last year's Paris Show (pictured) - will go into production at the Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd plant in Sunderland from 2006, with sales starting in 2007.

It won't be called the Qashqai. In fact it's known at present only by its code name, P32L, which suggests close links with the Primera. Nissan has always used P codes for the Primera in the same way that K codes denote the Micra, the current version of which is known as the K12.
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Being shown for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show, the Zaroot is Nissan’s vision of how sporty SUVs could look in the future. It combines traditional SUV values – and a serious off-road ability – with futuristic, sporty styling that marks it out as something different.

Retaining the traditional design cues of an SUV, the Zaroot’s appearance is squared-off, solid and tough looking. It implies strength and security – yet combines these familiar themes with something a little different – a pair of gullwing doors.

The doors dominate Zaroot’s profile, extending from the A-pillar to the rear of the passenger compartment, effectively where the C-pillar would be in a conventional vehicle. There is no B-pillar.

If the pentagonal doors define the character of Zaroot, the ‘arch graphic’ roof line continues a design theme that has featured on virtually all recent Nissan’s design concepts. Together they bring increased sporting prowess to an area of the market which hitherto has been seen as little more than utilitarian.

Front and rear styling also adds a futuristic twist to a conventional shape. Zaroot’s bluff nose ensures minimum front overhangs and incorporates Nissan’s now familiar angle strut grille, though the unusual vertical headlamp cluster brings an almost technical feel to Zaroot’s ‘face’.

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Japanese car maker Suzuki Motor Corp. (7269.T: Quote, Profile, Research) is expected to move the production of its Wagon R+ model to Poland from Hungary, the daily Napi Gazdasag said on its website www.napionline.hu on Friday.
Suzuki officials were not immediately available for comment.
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