The Nissan Note is a supermini hatchback or mini MPV sold worldwide since 2005 in its first generation. The first Note was marketed mainly in Japan and Europe and built in both countries. The second generation was sold more widely, including as the Versa Note in North America, and in late 2016 the Note introduced Nissan’s e-Power series hybrid drivetrain.
Nissan Note at a glance
| First generation | E11, on sale 20 January 2005 in Japan |
|---|---|
| European sales | from early 2006, UK first on 1 March 2006 |
| Built in | Japan and Washington, England |
| Engines at launch | 1.4 and 1.6 petrol, two 1.5 diesels |
| European trims | S, SE, SVE; later Visia, Acenta and Tekna |
| Underpinnings | shared in part with the Renault Modus |
| Second generation | replaced by the K14 Micra in Europe in 2017 |
| Versa Note | North American version, discontinued in 2019 |
| e-Power | series hybrid introduced in late 2016 |
| Third generation | e-Power only, from late 2020 |
based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Nissan Note.
History of the Nissan Note
Development
Poor sales of the Almera Tino, which sold 200,000 cars in seven years against 1,400,000 for its main rival the Renault Scénic after the second generation arrived, led Nissan to start work on the Note in summer 2002. At the 2004 Paris Motor Show the Nissan Tone concept was shown, similar to the production car but with a U-shaped panoramic roof, a large dashboard screen, an automatic gearbox and rear doors that were always locked. Nissan’s product manager Chris Lee said millions of dollars were invested and that the Note was meant to sell for under €13,000.
E11 (2005)
The production Note went on sale in Japan on 20 January 2005. The European version was shown at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show and the 2006 Geneva show, with sales in early 2006; the United Kingdom was first, on 1 March 2006. The car shared some underpinnings with the Renault Modus and was built at Nissan’s plant in Washington, England. Early cars offered 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol engines and two 1.5-litre diesels. European trims were S, SE and SVE, later replaced by Visia, Visia+, Acenta, Acenta R and Tekna, with Comfort, Luxury and Tekna versions in Russia and the CIS.
Later generations
In 2017 the second-generation Note was replaced in Europe by the French-built K14 Micra, while the Versa Note was discontinued in North America in 2019 as demand for subcompact hatchbacks fell. The Note continued in Japan until the third generation arrived in late 2020. The e-Power series hybrid was introduced in late 2016, and because of its popularity the third-generation Note is sold only with that drivetrain, with a WLTC fuel economy of 29.5 km per litre.
Design and features
- Almera Tino replacement: the car Nissan built after the Tino sold poorly.
- British build: made at Washington, England, for Europe.
- e-Power: a series hybrid in which the engine charges the battery.
- Third generation: sold with e-Power only.
Nissan Note versions
- Note E11 (2005–2012): the first generation.
- Note second generation: sold worldwide including as the Versa Note.
- Versa Note: the North American version to 2019.
- Note e-Power (2016–): the series hybrid.
- Note third generation (2020–): e-Power only.
The Note replaced the Almera and Almera Tino in Europe and was itself replaced there by the Micra. More cars are in the Nissan collection.
Video: 2013 Nissan Note 1.2 DIG-S Fahrbericht der Probefahrt
Video by YouTube on YouTube.
Sources
- Nissan Note, English Wikipedia: development, E11 launch, engines, trims, e-Power
