2016 Paris Motor Show: All-new Nissan Micra teased
Nissan has teased the upcoming all-new Micra hatchback ahead of its global reveal at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The 2015 Nissan Sway concept is said to be the inspiration behind the new Micra. As evident from the Sway concept, the new Micra will have a sharper styling which will replace the earlier not-so aggressive design.
While details are scant at the moment, expect a more squared design than the rounded one from the earlier Micra, with the car boasting bigger dimensions as well. There will be projector headlamps along with DRLs, hidden rear door handles and an integrated spoiler, being part of the design elements. The new Nissan Micra is also expected to sit lower than before and will be based on the CMF-B platform that has been developed in conjunction with its French partner, Renault. The engines are expected to be all-new 3- as well as 4-cylinder petrol and diesels. Manual and automatic transmissions will also be offered with both the engines.
What we know for sure is that the new Nissan Micra will not be manufactured in India for the time being. The CMF-B platform currently does not underpin any Indian car and hence the manufacturing cost for just the new Micra is working out to be too expensive. In the meanwhile, the current-gen Micra is the company's most exported car from India. While it hasn't managed to hold the Indian car buying population's attention, it is a darling with the masses abroad. In India, we get the older design Micra Active at a lower price point and the facelift priced slightly higher. Nissan offers the older car only with a petrol and manual combo while the facelift gets a diesel option as well as a CVT for the petrol.
If and when the 2017 Nissan Micra comes down to India, it will be a competitor for the Honda Jazz, Hyundai Elite i20 and the Baleno. It is expected that Nissan will still continue with the older-gen car which is based on the V-platform as well as is the basis for the Sunny sedan. Expect an all-new Nissan Sunny sedan in the near future as well.