No, Postman Pat hasn’t...

No, Postman Pat hasn’t turned over to the dark side! This is the next generation Nissan Cube in disguise – as far as possible – and undergoing testing before its 2009 launch.

The current Cube is a smash hit in Japan thanks to its quirky styling and clever use of space, but it’s never been officially available in the UK. However, that’s set to change with this new model, which will also spawn an eco-friendly electro-hybrid.

Sources inside Nissan told us the Cube will be launched with

Renault-sourced 1.6VVT petrol and 1.5dCi diesel engines initially, both

from the Clio supermini, before the hybrid reaches the UK in 2011.

The all-new Cube was shown in concept car guise at this year’s New York Auto Show as the "Denki Cube" and showcased Nissan’s future eco plans – "denki" is Japanese for "electric". The hybrid will utilise cutting-edge lithium-ion battery technology developed in conjunction with NEC and currently powering Nissan forklift trucks.

Exterior changes should be minimal, though the current car’s low rear lights will be raised to meet Euro regulations. A smooth CVT automatic gearbox should also feature, as well as a plusher interior to suit UK tastes.

We drove a current generation Cube recently, fresh from hot-lapping a GT-R supercar, yet the Micra-based city car still impressed us enough to think it will be a great addition to Nissan’s UK lineup.