Nissan’s got a new platform (codename “V”) that will underpin a number of low-cost body styles for third-world markets… like the US. According to Automotive News [sub], a four-door sedan, a five-door hatchback and a multipurpose vehicle will be based on the sub-Versa platform, collectively replacing the non-US-market Micra. Nissan hopes to sell a million of the three-cylinder subcompacts annually worldwide, necessitating a US campaign that will launch sometime after 2010. The vehicles will offer 50 percent fuel economy improvements over the Micra, use 18 percent fewer parts, and will not be built in Japan as Nissan has sought to keep costs for the range as low as possible. Auto Motor und Sport adds the crucial consideration that the new model will not fall into the gender-specific categorization that caused 80 percent of German Micra sales to come from women. Thank goodness for that then.
Given it will also be built in Washington (Tyne and Wear) will it be based on the new Renault Clio ?
EDIT: Is it me or does this look like a 1994 Opel Corsa ?
Arragonis, the current Micra/March shares a platform with the Clio, if I am not mistaken. The Versa/Tiida is also built on a stretched version of the platform. So I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the new one was shared with Renault.
We rented a current-gen Micra in England one day last year, and we really liked it: simple but fresh retro styling (like a London taxi if you squinted) and basic tasteful no-nonsense interior with decent room. Pretty sure ours had a 1.4 with a 5spd stick, which was acceptably fast and very easy and fun to drive.
I hope Nissan gets some professional help with the styling of this next one, as that pic makes it appear quite derivative. And I would prefer an even number of cylinders please…
OMG! “We’re Europe!”
Just in time, I’ve been wanting to drive a cross-eyed artist’s concept.
My guess is that such car would be based on the Twingo platform. Smaller than Clio, which underpins the Versa/Tiida.
@Arragonis: it looks to me more like a Toyota Aygo.
low-cost body styles for third-world markets… like the US
FAIL!!!
Fair enough.
The Versa really is too big for the class—and bigger, inside, than the Sentra. And the Sentra, frankly, isn’t very good. It would make sense to drop it, replace it with the Versa, and slot a true small car underneath the Versa.
“Auto Motor und Sport” adds the crucial consideration that the new model will not fall into the gender-specific categorization that caused 80 percent of German Micra sales to come from women.
Ok, I’m game: what was it about the car that women filled the showroom to take one home?
Provided they can make this one as indestructable and un-killable as the 1993-2003 model and actually put some legroom in the back which the 2003 & onwards doesn’t have – it’ll be a sales success.
But something just tells me that it’ll end up with the same niggles that has marred the reliability reputation of so many more modern Nissans.
I had a ’96 Micra back when I lived in the UK. A sweet and highly cane-able 1.3 litre, 75hp 16valve engine made it not exactly quick (~12.5 sec 0-60), but at the same time the car was not altogether unfun. It would do 105mph flat out (don’t ask how I know) and cruised pretty happily at 80. I averaged well over 40mpg (imperial).
When I came to the US, my Dad used it as a spare car until just a couple of years ago. The only faults: The radio broke (replaced under warranty) and a headlight bulb blew.
Considering the Micra competes head on with the Fiesta/Polo/Yaris crowd, it’s odd they’re aiming it below that market here in the US. It’ll pretty much only compete with the Chevy Spark, whenever that arrives. Then again it’s consistent with the Versa being a size bigger than its rivals – their subcompact Versa is really C-segment-sized, so their city car Micra will be subcompact-sized. Or something like that.
I on the other hand like the idea of replacing the blah Sentra with the kinda nice Versa (or, preferably, renaming the next Versa the Sentra, and making a less weird sedan version) and marketing the Micra as the $10,000-15,000 car.
psarhjinian :
That’s a fair assessment and I agree wholeheartedly. I almost never see a current gen Sentra on the road. I probably see 10x as many Versas. I don’t know what the problem is with the current Sentra but it must have the stink of death on it for as many as I see on a daily basis.
Like psarhjinian mentioned, it’ll be interesting to see how Nissan is going to juggle the lineup here to avoid cannibalization. I think the closest thing to the Micra currently available in the States is the two-door Yaris hatch. I can’t stand the current Micra–looks way too French. Like a (gag) C3 Pluriel.
A very tiny car. If it gets decent MPG could be popular with long-commute secretaries in hard-to-park areas.
My parents own a 91 civic hatch with low miles that has much more room inside length and width-wise (but its height is much shorter) for about the same very low weight. a 5-sp 1.35 lt Euro spec thing, still looks and drives like new.