What happens when the Nissan Micra gets angry and aggressive?
It becomes a Renault Pulse!
The Japanese company has proven that’s not always the case today with the help of its performance division Nismo (like what AMG is to Mercedes). The Nissan Micra Nismo edition is a conceptual study for the Tokyo Auto Salon this year. The everyday Micra sports a full body kit, a redesigned bumper, a modified grille and new outside mirrors.
Interiors are not all-new with changes reserved to new sport seats and steering wheel. Performance additions include a lowered sport suspension, bigger wheels and a loud exhaust.
The highlight of this custom is Nismo’s signature colors pearl white highlighted by red accents that add visual flair to what otherwise would just be another car in the parking lot.
The Thai-made Micra-based Nissan Almera (Sunny) sedan will grace Australian dealerships towards the end of 2012, CarAdvice.com.au has reported. The website briefs readers that the lightweight sedan, developed in Thailand under the eco-car program, is a sensible alternative to cars such as the Honda City, Toyota Yaris sedan and Ford Fiesta sedan.
The Almera opens the door for Nissan to this important segment. To make customers feel safe, six airbags and ESP are part of the standard equipment. Nissan is taking safety seriously even in India where a passenger side airbag is a standard feature on its cheapest offering, the Micra. Surprisingly ABS brakes don’t find a place even on the top-end variant!
A 1.5-liter petrol engine is discussed in the article married to a CVT as a choice of powertrain, but the exact details will gain clarity only at the time of launch.
Nissan has introduced a pair of special models of Micra in the UK market. Called Kuro and Shiro, which translate to black and white respectively, the company is trying to lend UK’s favorite hatchback a unique touch. The Kuro is finished in a new black shade while the Shiro is launched in two shades of white – Alabaster or Pearl. Both models get special edition badges on the tailgate to denoting their uniqueness.
Changes are evident the moment you see interior shots. An ivory-effect dashboard and lighter seat trim is suitable for the Indian market as well. The equipment list is bolstered with additions as heated front seats, climate control, parking space measurement and reverse parking sensor. As an optional extra, Nissan offers Nissan Connect, the company’s integrated sat-nav system for 400 quid.
The Kuro and Shiro special editions are available on the 1.2-liter naturally aspirated engine, DIG-S supercharged engine paired with manual or the CVT automatic transmissions.
In what can be termed as a bolt out of the blue, Nissan today opened up bookings for the Sunny diesel model. In an email received moments ago, Nissan shared the vehicle’s spec sheet and press release describing the launch comprehensively. The car comes in two variants with a 1.5-liter CRDI engine paired to a 5-speed manual transmission.
Ex-showroom prices for Delhi for the Sunny diesel
- Rs 7,98,000 (XL) (1.1 lakh over the XL petrol variant)
- Rs 8,78,000 (XV) (1.1 lakh over the XV petrol variant)
It is powered by a 1.5-liter 4cylinder K9K diesel engine, borrowed from the Micra but produces a much better 86PS @ 3,750 RPM and 200 Nm @ 2000 rpm (IAB was bang on with the specification in our scoop post!). The mileage stands at an impressive 21.64 kmpl (ARAI certified). It is impressively spec-ed too with the both diesel variants equipped with ABS brakes, EBD, Brake Assist besides the driver side Airbag.
Nissan has sold about 3,000 examples of the three petrol variants and it looks like their strong performance in India will continue with the launch of the diesel Sunny.
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We have received a tip off on the important specifications of the Nissan Sunny diesel. The diesel variant is unlikely to be launched in 2011 and we’re surprised to hear that the launch may not happen even during the Auto Expo. Nissan could introduce the vehicle in late January or February 2012 at a premium of 75-80k rupees over the petrol variants. The Sunny uses the Micra’s engine and transmission tuned differently.
The Sunny has driven up volumes for Nissan, it registered a growth of 149% in last month compared to November last year. The Sunny’s rear leg room, features, boot space, thoughtful marketing campaign and attractive starting price have intrigued customers. The diesel model with fuel economy close to 20kpl can build on this encouraging start.
Nissan has come out with an interesting variant of the Micra (locally called March) hatch in Brazil sporting a 1.6-liter engine that fires using petrol and ethanol. The March variant is equipped with a 16-valve flex-fuel engine that develops 111PS/151 Nm. Its top speed stands at a lofty 191 kph.
Nissan may not introduce a sporty version of the Micra for the Indian customer as the Renault Pulse looks very close to one. Nissan recently updated the car with a powerful horn, rear head rests and pure drive badges. Skyrocketing petrol prices thwarted the appeal of the fuel-sipping 1.2 petrol, and we’ll be surprised if the Japanese decision makers consider the more powerful 1.5 petrol from the Sunny.
After all those months prior to the name announcement ceremony that IAB speculated on Nissan toying with the Almera name for the Sunny in India in the belief that rights to Sunny name lay with Bajaj, Nissan decided to deploy the Almera brand for the Thai market.
Nissan India must have reached a settlement with Bajaj to secure the Sunny name as even late last year we heard from one Nissan official privy to the matter saying that the Sunny name was practically ruled out for the car codenamed L02B no one in Nissan liked being called Micra sedan.
Now that the case is settled we can move on to how different the Sunny in Thailand is. The Almera is strapped with a 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine putting out 79 horsepower (borrowed from the Micra). It’s available in either manual or the XTRONIC-CVT. Start-Stop system is standard which pushes fuel economy to 20kmpl in their country’s driving cycle and carbon dioxide emissions per kilometer stands at a tree-hugging 120 grams.
The rear spoiler is a nice cosmetic touch India will also appreciate. Note that the communication color is same in Thailand and India.
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After a successful launch of the Nissan Sunny in India, Nissan is contemplating on exporting the midsize sedan to various countries. The company has already placed its orders for UK and Spain. Now, Nissan is looking forward to export the Sunny to West Asia and Africa from their Chennai plant.
Most of the exports would happen from their 2,00,000 capacity plant in Oragadam near Chennai. The idea is to develop that plant as a global supply chain management hub that will export cars to the many overseas countries.
There is definitely a strong case to export the Sunny sedan in many countries. So called as the ‘Global Sedan’, the Nissan Sunny can be easily customized to meet any requirement of any market. Being a successful product in USA and China – two major automotive markets – the Sunny will be well accepted in any market in the world.
Having said that, Nissan is also focusing on the domestic market.
Nissan has realized that the only chink in the armor is the lack of dealerships and service centers in India. The company is planning to expand its dealer networks to 60 members by next year from the current 45. By 2013, the carmaker plans to take it up to 100. This dealership network will come in real handy for the future products of Nissan India such as the NV200 MPV and a proposed small car in the future.
We expect Nissan to launch the diesel Sunny in the last quarter of 2011 and price it at around 75-80k over the petrol.
