Nissan's Qazana-rama

Believe it or not, this beefy looking beast is actually the basis for Nissan's smallest crossover - a mini SUV confirmed for production at the Japanese maker's Sunderland plant in 2010.

What's all the fuss about?

Depending on your outlook, the Qazana is either a Nissan Murano that's been beaten with a very big ugly stick, or the coolest supermini imaginable. In the pictures it looks huge - thanks in part to its Geneva-spec 20-inch alloys - but in the metal it's quite a cute thing, taking styling cues from a variety of Nissans including the Qashqai, the 370Z and even the little Micra.

Any new technology?

Not necessarily, though the frameless electric doors are a nice touch, as are the LED daytime running lights. It's described by Nissan as an 'intelligent, all-wheel drive crossover', and given the maker's love of a new niche, and its expertise in the field of making accomplished crossovers, we expect it to be good. It measures in at a little over four metres long, making it smaller than a Golf, though it's a bit taller so it should be roomy enough for four.

Will it ever see the light of day?

Oh yes. And it will secure 1,100 jobs at Nissan's Sunderland plant - a huge boost at a time when makers are cutting jobs at their factories with ever more fervency. It will fill the production line space left by the Micra when it ceases production in 2010 - though expect some of the show stand bling to be lost for the production version, of course.

Mark Nichol