New Nissan Micra unveiled; Full details, specifications, images and Press Release

Nissan finally unveiled its fourth generation Micra at the Geneva Motor Show today at 4.30-4.45pm IST (12.00pm Local time). Its an important car for Nissan globally and it is the Micra that will lead Nissan’s charge in India. Built at the Renault-Nissan alliance’s massive plant at Oragadam near Chennai, the plant boasts of a maximum capacity of 400,000 units a year although Nissan will produce just 70,000 Micras in its first year of operation with capability to ramp that up to 200,000 depending on the demand. As a matter of fact, the new Micra will be sold in 160 countries. It will be manufactured at Mexico, China and Thailand as well.

“Combine 25 years’ experience of designing compact cars for city driving… with a totally new, versatile platform and Nissan production know-how… and the result is modern, simple and destined to be a serious competitor on the world stage, “ said Carlos Ghosn,, during the car’s reveal. The styling is definitely understated and bland considering some of Nissan’s designs like the Teana and Juke. The interiors are good looking and on closer examination are very well made with tight panel gaps that hark of quality. The air-con controls on the top end model are much different to the competition and make a style statement themselves. The colours on the beige trim model with silver finish are well chosen and are excellent looking (hope India gets the same). Push button start is expected on the top end model and with regards to space, the previous gen Micra was 3.7m long with 251 litres of boot space and going by the size, the present one is bigger. One improvement however is the reduction in weight – from 1055kg to 960kg. This was possible due to advanced design concepts that reduced the number of parts used.

Powering the Micra are a new range of 1.2L 3-cylinder engines in two iterations – a naturally aspirated version producing 79bhp and 108Nm of torque and the souped-up version that features supercharging and direct injection to produce 97bhp and 142Nm of torque. The engine HR12DE is essentially the HR16DE found on the firm’s Qashqai, Note and recently launched Juke with one cylinder cut off. While the normal version emits 115g/km Co2, the supercharged version emits just 95g/km. Also, the supercharged version also returns 6% higher fuel economy due to the incorporation of standard Start-Stop tech (only on supercharged version in Europe) and Valve timing control Transmitting the power to the ground will be a new 5-speed transmission and CVT.

Nissan has concentrated hard on achieving perfect combination of ride and handling and the Micra is expected to set the benchmark in the segment along with the Polo and Figo. Long travel suspension has been incorporated with the local conditions of India in mind. The Micra will be nimble too with a 4.5m turning radius. Technologically, the Micra also gets reversing sensors and a new ‘parking space measurement’ (PSM) device with three skill levels (amateur, normal and expert) to lessen the burden of parking in tight spaces – a unique feature in this segment, and likely to be a popular innovation in Europe where ‘touch parking’ is a way of life.

Also in the list is Nissan’s i-key, Nissan Connect, Nissan’s accessible touch-screen combined audio and satellite navigation system, glass roof, automatic wipers, speed sensitive volume on the audio, a push button start-stop system in addition to a drive computer which supplies drivers with real time fuel economy information, cruising range and outside temperature. On the security side, the car is also fitted with a speed-sensitive automatic door locking system. Safety-wise, the Micra gets ESP, ABS, Airbags and seatbelt pretensioners as standard on the Euro model. 95% of these features are expected to be deleted for India (which is terribly bad).

What we are still unaware is the pricing, physical dimensions and detailed technical specifications. Reports suggest that India will get a detuned engine (in the interest of fuel economy), black interiors, ABS,airbags and push-button start on top model and thats about it. Those looking for excitement and style will be terribly disappointed with the Micra and are better off waiting for the all new Swift due this year end. Considering the present pact, Nissan has not done anything revolutionary (considering their capabilities) and we will have to wait for the market response.

Nissan will not lead a price war in the hatchback market in India which is seeing rivals undercut each other on price. “There are some strange things going on in India with some companies entering into a price war. I can tell you that’s not the road we want to go down. We won’t sell our Micra cheap and if that is not accepted in India then we will ship them to some other market where people are willing to pay for them, said Colin Dodge, Executive Vice President, Nissan Motor Company. 

Now, the million dollar question – Will it sell in India? The bland looks, poor dealership network take the game away although the quality, powertrain refinement and ride quality balance that which leaves us with the price – if priced well (which is highly improbable considering Colin Dodge’s remarks), the Micra could succeed in India, otherwise Nissan might just remain a spectator while other brands take over the market. The ball is in their court and lets see what they do.

Press Release

Boasting breakthrough packaging and small-car engineering, the all-new, fourth generation Nissan Micra (known as March in Japan) is on course to create a whole new set of industry standards. Unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the Nissan Micra has consistently won praise and success for in Europe, Japan and other markets, gaining a reputation as a reliable, stylish, accessible compact car enjoyed by a wide cross-section of customers. The new Micra has been designed to build on that trend – in 160 countries.

“Combine 25 years’ experience of designing compact cars for city driving… with a totally new, versatile platform and Nissan production know-how… and the result is modern, simple and destined to be a serious competitor on the world stage, ” said Carlos Ghosn,, during the car’s reveal.

Developed and built on Nissan’s all-new V-platform, which was developed under a comprehensive new production engineering process, the new Nissan Micra was designed and tested in Japan to be built in at least four overseas locations, and fine-tuned to meet the differing tastes and needs of customers in 160 countries worldwide. Breaking with traditions that focused on launching production in established markets like Europe and Japan, Nissan will base production of the new Nissan Micra at overseas manufacturing sites such as Thailand, India, Mexico and China.

Design

“The car has to charm a global audience,” comments Makoto Yamane, Associate Product Chief Designer. “Its face had to look stylish and have an air of sophistication to it. ” A unique design feature of this car — its double-layer integrated grille — meets these requirements. But the car’s classic shape was also crucial. That’s why it also employs a stylized version of the distinctive arched side window line, something that is central to the Nissan Micra’s heritage, identity and appeal in Europe and Japan.

Retaining its compact dimensions, the new car is slightly longer and marginally lower, while its longer wheelbase enables a ‘wheels-at-each-corner’ stance, the main reason behind the Nissan Micra’s roomier interior. The boomerang-shaped grooves on the roof have a clearly defined purpose too, continues Yamane. Aiming to create the same sense of exterior style inside the car, Nissan has employed a ‘connected cocoon’ design featuring a dashboard design which takes on a ‘twin bubble’ theme. This refers to the circular instrumentation binnacle and the similarly shaped glovebox compartment on the passenger side.

All-new Engine and CVT

In Europe, a simple engine line-up sees just two engines options – both are variations on Nissan’s all-new naturally aspirated HR12 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine. Inheriting its DNA from the HR16 4-cylinder engine powering the Note and Qashqai, the new engine employs valve-timing control (VTC). Power is rated at 59kW (80ps, while torque output is 108Nm. At only 115g/km, CO2 emissions for this version are world-class.

In addition to the new normally aspirated engine, Nissan will also offer a supercharged 1.2-litre direct injection iteration with a start-stop system fitted as standard in Europe. These technological innovations – stop-start reduces CO2 by six per cent – combine to offer spirited performance, with outputs of 72kW (98PS) and 142Nm of torque. Emissions will be just 95g/km, an exceptional achievement for a petrol engine.

Both engine options in Europe are available with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or Nissan’s all-new Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The wide gear coverage enables the 1.2-litre engine to achieve the economy of a 1.0-litre as well as brisk acceleration.

Not satisified merely improving performance levels, engineers excelled in developing ride and handling characteristics which combine agility, refinement and poise. Mounted onto Nissan’s new signature V-platform, the suspension has been designed to be both compact, minimizing intrusion at the rear for maximum trunk space, but not at the expense of the car’s on-road dynamics. Particular attention has been paid to bump absorption, meaning that the Nissan Micra will ride serenely over challenging road surfaces, not suffer from wallow or float, and cruise effortlessly at highway speeds.

Comfort, function and equipment

In contrast to its high speed capability, the car also has superb visibility and a class-topping turning radius of 4.5m and several new technologies that assist with minimizing CO2 emissions and mileage while at the same time making parking easier.

Globally, equipment levels differ by market, but the new Micra is available with some key technological innovations which are designed to simplify day-to-day life for its owners.

The new Nissan Micra is available with reversing sensors and a new ‘parking space measurement’ (PSM) device with three skill levels (amateur, normal and expert) to lessen the burden of parking in tight spaces – a unique feature in this segment, and likely to be a popular innovation in Europe where ‘touch parking’ is a way of life.

It also offers an Intelligent Key, Nissan Connect, Nissan’s accessible touch-screen combined audio and satellite navigation system, glass roof, automatic wipers, speed sensitive volume on the audio, a push button start-stop system in addition to a drive computer which supplies drivers with real time fuel economy information, cruising range and outside temperature. On the security side, the car is also fitted with a speed-sensitive automatic door locking system.

Safety

The incorporation of the V-platform is one major factor contributing to the car’s improved impact safety. The car is designed to absorb the forces of a frontal impact, thanks to the sophisticated crumple zones, while maintaining cabin integrity due to its highly reinforced body shell. In Europe, the Nissan Micra will be fitted with ABS, dual front airbags, curtain and side airbags, Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and pretensioner seatbelts as standard equipment.

Simon Thomas, Nissan’s European Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing, said: “The new Nissan Micra will continue to be the benchmark city car in Europe. Its appeal will be enhanced by its unique combination of compact exterior dimensions, with roomy interior, small and efficient engines, and user-friendly technology. Its continued icon status is destined to be be reinforced in its fourth generation.”

Sales of the new Nissan Micra will start in Thailand in March and European sales will begin in November 2010.