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Nissan Puts Self-Cleaning Car To The Test

NOT a fan of cleaning your car? If so, you might want to make friends with your local Nissan dealer, as the Japanese firm has begun tests on a "self-cleaning" vehicle which could wash away the worries of those weary of doing the job themselves. Boffins at Nissan's European technical centre in Switzerland are testing an innovative paint technology that repels mud, rain and everyday dirt.

Renault Scenic XMOD

In a move that marks the huge shift in interest from MPVs and minivans to SUVs, the definitive ‘mini-MPV' Renault Scenic has been rehashed and reborn as a pseudo off-roader. The addition of unpainted bumpers and lower body cladding, along with some metallic-effect details is a clear attempt to stem the flood of buyers choosing cars such as the Nissan Qashquai. It may be little more than an Allroad-style makeover rather than a new format but it speaks volumes in terms of how the family car market has shifted and not only in Europe.

Nissan Juke n-tec arrives in the UK: Price from £16,295

Nissan has revealed a new model in the Juke range – the Juke n-tec – with cosmetic tweaks and extra equipment  Cost from £16,295. It was a move that gave Nissan an edge as car makers woke up to the realisation that car buyers wanted something a bit higher riding and a bit more butch than a saloon car to ride around, leaving other car makers hustling to catch up with Nissan’s Crossover jump. And it was the success of the Qashqai that inspired Nissan to follow up with a little brother in the shape of the ‘I’m ugly but I’m funky’ Nissan Juke, which looks a bit like a four-wheeled bug prowling the urban landscape, but which is actually a good little car.