Nissan Debuts Youth-Oriented Lannia in China

Nissan Motor Co. says it developed the Lannia sport sedan for upwardly mobile trendsetting Chinese buyers in the 20s and 30s. The car was revealed publicly at the Shanghai auto show last weekend.

The midsize sedan's heavily sculpted exterior is intended to attract buyers looking for cutting-edge style, according to Nissan. Design cues include a "V-motion" grille, boomerang-shaped headlamp assemblies, kick-up C-pillars and blackout side trim that makes the roof appear to float.

Nissan showed the car in concept form as the Friend-Me concept in Shanghai two years ago and last year as the Lannia concept at the Beijing auto show.

The front-wheel-drive car was designed and developed by Nissan Design China and includes locally inspired infotainment technologies. The Lannia will be produced in China by Nissan's joint venture with Dongfeng and is expected to go on sale there later this year.

Nissan, which released no other details about the car, has not indicated whether the model will be marketed outside China.