A mid-2010 update for the Nissan Dualis crossover hatch will deliver a front and rear makeover, improved interior technology and NVH refinements.

The most notable visual change is at the front where a new bonnet, bumper, wings, grille and headlamps will be fitted.

At the rear, the overall shape of the lights will remain unchanged but will include an aerodynamic feature to reduce drag.

A more transparent lens design has been adopted, while the stop lamp and tail lights operate using 12 LEDs for improved clarity.

A series of other modifications around the car will improve its aerodynamic efficiency with the drag coefficient dropping from 0.34 to 0.33.

A white LCD screen showing information about instantaneous and average fuel consumption, mileage, time and cruise control headlines a fresh dashboard design.

Low-level lighting and additional storage compartments round out the interior changes.

The addition of multi-layer insulation material around the front bulkhead, an ‘acoustic’ noise-reducing windscreen and new window seals around the A-pillar have all led to improvements in noise, vibration and harshness levels.

The suspension has also been tweaked slightly for better ride, comfort and responsiveness.

Nissan Australia’s Jeffery Fisher said exact pricing details would be released in the new year closer to its launch in around six months.

“We’re going to be looking at May to June, so late in the first half of the year.”

He also confirmed that Nissan was close to bringing the Dualis+2 long-wheel-base seven-seater to Australia.

“We’re looking at final stages of negotiations on that.  It obviously depends a lot on pricing and the way we want to position it but we’re pretty hopeful that it’s going to materialise for us.

“We would hope to see that during 2010, but we can’t guarantee that,” he said.

Sales of the Dualis have declined by 24.3 percent this year and stand at 1883 over the first 11 months.

Its market share in the compact SUV segment has dropped from 3.1 to 2.5 percent, but more than doubled that in November when the Nissan sold 411 units.