The car, unveiled at...

The car, unveiled at last week"s New York Motor Show, is billed as a concept. However, brand owner Nissan says it will be in production within 12 months. And bosses are expected to rubber-stamp a deal which will see the US marque come here, with the M45 a key model.

Powered by a 340bhp 4.5-litre V8 or a 250bhp 3.5 V6, it has a host of luxury features including climate-controlled seats, keyless start and a 14-speaker stereo system. There will also be a standard-fit satellite navigation set-up incorporating the latest Bluetooth technology.

In addition, a lane-departure warning system sounds an alarm if the vehicle crosses the dividing line between two carriageways. This automatically deactivates when the indicator is in use, meaning drivers must flick the steering-wheel stalk every time they change lane to avoid an irritating buzzer. Further safety aids include emergency brake assist, which acts with the car"s stability programme to avoid rollover accidents, as well as an advanced airbag set-up. The system detects the angle of impact and inflates only the bags it deems necessary, cutting the cost of potential repairs.