Despite appearances, this is an all-new Nissan Micra and it will be on sale in the UK in September. For Europe, there will be only two engine choices, but the Micra will continue to be offered in three- and five-door formats.
Why's it here?
The Nissan Micra is an institution for those who want no-nonsense driving at an affordable price. It may not be a show star, but the Micra will sell more than almost any other car making its debut at Geneva. For Europe, there are two 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol engines. One is normally aspirated and the other has a supercharger to boost power from 79- to 97bhp. The standard engine emits 115g/km of carbon dioxide, but the supercharged version produces just 95g/km to merit free road tax.
Show stopper or floor filler?
It's an all-new car and very important to a lot of buyers, but the new Micra's looks are too close to the car it replaces to be a show stopper. Potential buyers will note that both 1.2-litre engines can be ordered with a five-speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission. There will also be a long list of optional extras, including a parking space measurement device that turns parking into a competition with three levels of ability: amateur, normal and expert. Which one are you?
Check out the press conference from the show below:
17 May: Ford owners with cars using the 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine can now get up to 34 extra horsepower from Superchips. The remap costs £445 including VAT and is covered by a 12-month, 30,000-mile warranty.
16 May: The Porsche Museum is participating in the Mille Miglia recreation from 17-20 May. A 550 Spyder, three 356 Speedsters and a 356 Coupé will tackle the course that runs from Brescia to Rome.
16 May: Four Toyota GT86s and one Lexus LFA will compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours race this weekend. Gazoo Racing will campaign the LFA and two GT86s, painted in black, white and red. The team has already had two class wins at the circuit with the Lexus. [photo]
