Nissan prices the Pixo Mini from just £5,995 in the UK

The headline story here is of course Nissan UK's decision to price its new Pixo minicar from just £5,995 on the road, or £800 lower than the entry-level version of its near-identical twin, the Suzuki Alto. Both cars are manufactured in the same Suzuki plant in Delhi, India. When the Pixo arrives at Nissan's UK dealerships in early June, it will be offered with three trim grade, Visia, Acenta and Tekna. All versions are powered by a three-cylinder 1.0-litre powertrain developing 68-horsepower.

The entry-level Visia that starts from £5,995 comes equipped with standard ABS / EBD, twin front airbags, power steering, CD player with MP3 playback, front cup holders and rear wash/wipe.

Step up a grade and £6,745 gets you into the Acenta, which Nissan expects to be the Pixo's best selling version. The Acenta's highlights include side airbags, remote central locking, electric front windows, front fog lamps, color-coded mirrors plus door handles and a 50/50 split folding rear seat.

Sitting at the top of the range is the Tekna which costs £7,645, or £8,555 with the automatic transmission option. In addition to the Accenta's standard equipment, the Tekna also features air conditioning with pollen filter, ESP and curtain airbags.

Nissan Pixo: New Affordable Mini Car Made in India to Debut in Paris

Along with the revised 2009 Note mini MPV –see photos and details here- Nissan will also stage the global debut of its all-new mini car, the Pixo at this year’s Paris Motor Show. Built in collaboration with Suzuki Motor Corporation in Delhi, India, the Pixo is essentially a rebadged and restyled version of the new Suzuki Alto. Although hasn’t released pricing yet, the Japanese carmaker supports that when the Pixo goes on sale in Europe in spring 2009, it will be offered at ‘an extremely accessible price’. -Continued

Measuring 3,565 mm long, 1,470 mm tall and 1,600 mm wide with a wheelbase of 2,360 mm, Nissan’s Pixo is roughly the same size as Fiat’s Panda mini car. According to Nissan, five-door hatchback can accommodate four passengers with comfort. he Pixo will be offered with an efficient three cylinder 1.0-litre engine matted to a standard 5-speed manual gearbox while buyers can also opt for a full four-speed automatic.