THIS is the car Nissan will put up against the all-conquering VW Golf.

The Pulsar, a familiar name in Asia and Australasia since the late 70s, scores highly for its bold design, technical innovations and interior space, according to Nissan.

Featuring an all-turbo-charged engine range, comprising two petrols and one diesel, the company promises they will be high on performance and low on emissions, with CO2 levels below 95g/km.

Boasting class-leading wheelbase, the five-door hatch offers more rear legroom and shoulder room than its rivals. In fact, Nissan says it’s more spacious than some D-segment models.

Designed and engineered in Europe, it sits on a lengthened version of the crossover Juke’s platform and will be built at Nissan’s Barcelona plant.

In terms of on-board tech, the company says the Pulsar will be the only car in its class to offer Moving Object Detection, Lane Departure Warning and Blind Spot Warning as standard on at least one model in the range.

The Pulsar also features the second generation of the company’s NissanConnect system that includes smartphone integration, Google Send-to-Car and access to a wide range of apps.

The car will go on sale in the Autumn, though prices are yet to be announced.