Versatile Versa joins small-car showdown

By RICHARD WILLIAMSON The world is growing smaller every day, especially the automotive world.
With DaimlerChrysler's decision this week to introduce its teensy Smart car to the U.S. market in 2008, its safe to say that automakers expect high fuel prices to keep driving buyers toward greater efficiency.
Meanwhile, the Japanese pioneers are again building benchmarks in on a small scale using traditional gas engines.
In response to the recent arrival of Toyota's Yaris and Honda's Fit, Nissan is rolling out its 2007 Versa hatchback.
Prices on the Versa begin at $12,450 for the 1.8 S with a standard 122-horsepower 1.8-liter double overhead cam 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed manual transmission. Adding a four-speed automatic transmission drives the price to $13,250.
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