October 2001: Nissan's global chiefs have called its new Primera 'the cornerstone of the company in Europe'.

The saloon, hatchback and estate were seen in tandem for the first time in Frankfurt and will be launched across Europe from early next year.

Nissan UK fleet chief Dave Murfitt described the Primera as: 'The car we have been waiting for since Nissan started making cars in Europe 10 years ago. The car is important because the styling is so different. It marks the start of a big change for Nissan.'

The new Primera features a mono-silhouette shape - instead of the tradition three-box saloon style - and internally the 'cockpit-style' dashboard layout features a 'central concentration switch' which links audio, driver information, DVD navigation and climate controls to one electronically-managed keyboard and screen.

The seven-inch screen is also used to display images of the rear of the car from a closed circuit television camera mounted above the rear licence plate. The camera is automatically activated when reverse gear is engaged to provide 'the ultimate parking aid' to prevent rear-end accidents.

• Nissan president and chief executive officer Carlos Ghosn made little attempt to describe the three-door hatchback concept dubbed mm.e as anything but the next Micra. Unveiling the car, Ghosn said: 'mm.e is our vision of a new small car. It is an advance step in creating a future Micra.'V mm.e is characterised by a curvaceous exterior and a spacious interior featuring a similar high roofline to the current Micra.