No, no, Nissan hasn’t decided to really heat up the latest generation of its Note hatchback; instead, it relies on a new and sportier-flared trim named SR to spice up interest in the car for the 2015MY, which is making its debut at the Chicago Auto Show along with another new grade, the SL.
The new Note SR keeps the standard 109-horsepower, 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine paired to an Xtronic transmission and capable of returning up to 40mpg highway, adding some visual enhancements both inside and out.
At the front end, there’s a new grille that works together with darker headlamps, standard fog lights with black and chrome accents, while other additions include the body-color side spoilers, new mirrors with integrated turn signals, a roof spoiler, SR badging and dark-finish 16-inch alloys in 195/55R16 tires.
Interior appointments come in the form of a 370Z-inspired leather-wrapped steering wheel, along with suede-like fabric seats with orange accents and double stitching, a redesigned piano black center instrument panel with silver accents and chrome knobs, and what Nissan describes as a “Euro-inspired Fine Vision triple-dial gauge cluster with floating trip computer”.
As for the other new trim level, the Note SL doesn’t add any cosmetic features, but it does improve the hatchback’s standard equipment with fog lights, NissanConnect and NissanConnect Apps, a 5.0-inch color display, RearView Monitor, iPod Connectivity, Push Button Ignition and Easy Fill Tire Alert.
Nissan has not yet released pricing for the two new Note models.
PHOTO GALLERY
