This is the Nissan Invitation

Nissan is not content with the B-segment. That pesky class of cars featuring the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and its very own Micra will soon find another new entrant, and it might look something like this: the Invitation.

Built as a concept car for the Geneva motor show next month, the Invitation is intended to spark "excitement and innovation" for the new model, set to launch in 2013.

And that name says it all. Says Nissan's Francois Bancon: "The name is self explanatory. It is designed to be inviting thanks to its sensuous exterior design and generous and comfortable interior space."

As such, Nissan promises us a ‘refreshingly' open cabin with practicality and modernity boasting high quality, and features Around View Monitor technology, Nissan Safety Shield Technologies (that interact with the driving environment) and other gubbins.

Nissan is aiming for under 100g/km of CO2 emissions for the most frugal, while all will get good fuel economy and generally tiny exhaust discharges. Not that they really needed to say that. Imagine: "Our new car! 100 per cent LESS economical with HIGHER emissions than before!"

The Invitation will join three others on Nissan's Geneva show stand: a Juke Nismo concept, an e-NV200 concept and one more top secret world premiere...