STRONG ‘statement’ cars like the 350Z and the Murano SUV are helping Nissan move away from its old volume strategy and sell more cars to discerning business users.

The URGE sports car concept, making its European debut at the show, backs this up and Nissan’s fleet director Dave Murfitt told Fleet News the strategy is set to continue with an innovative all-new lower-medium car.

He said: ‘We’re already looking forward to our new launch in the first quarter of next year. We only have a code name for it at the moment – P32L – but it will be a Golf competitor, a kind of small Murano.’

‘Fleet business at Nissan has dipped,’ said Murfitt. ‘We cut back on short-cycle business like rental and courtesy cars and at the same time the Almera and Primera ranges didn’t include a diesel. You could say we’re in a bit of a core segment trough. But P32L will change that.’