REPORT: Next generation Nissan Micra coming to the U.S.
by Damon Lavrinc on Oct 20th 2009 at 12:31PM 
Next Generation Nissan Micra - Click above for high-res image gallery
On the eve of the Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan has confirmed plans to offer the next generation Micra in the United States. The new, yet-to-be-named model will slot in below the Versa (the Micra is nearly two-feet shorter than Nissan's entry-level hatch) and will be built atop Nissan's new low-cost "V" architecture.
The new model will be build at five of Nissan's plants around the world and will be equipped with a three-cylinder engine putting out an undisclosed amount of power. Three variants will be available – a four-door sedan, five-door hatchback and an MPV-like vehicle – all in an effort to sell one million "V" platform units globally each year. Nissan hasn't disclosed when the next generation Micra will go on sale globally – or more specifically, in the States – but expect the sub-compact runabout to hit U.S. shores sometime in 2011 or 2012.
Gallery: 2010 Nissan Micra Sketches
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
chris 12:43PM (10/20/2009)
I've never understood why companies build 4 door sedans on chassis smaller than C class cars. the trunk is a bread box in them. Hatchbacks are really the only way to get practical use out of something in the B and A range.
Reply
geo.stewart 1:54PM (10/20/2009)
agreed.
love the Fiesta but the sedan's trunk looks like an add-on.
personally, for the US, I dont know why they offer anything other than a 3-dr for the A-class (this Micra). B-class barely makes it. You can only cram 3 lbs of doody in a 3 lb bag.
Josh 1:21PM (10/20/2009)
Yay!
Reply
Hamhock 12:47PM (10/20/2009)
I really wish they wouldn't put out renderings that look this good (big wheel arches, meaty rubber) when sadly we know the finished article will have 14 inch rolling stock that looks like the donut from my old CRX.....
Reply
Luis 12:57PM (10/20/2009)
Um, 14" rolling stock used to go on most compact and mid-size cars. My 1990 Camry had 14" wheels. Econo-boxes used to have 12" and 13" rubber (insert (non)appropriate jokes here)
james 4:11AM (10/21/2009)
Ladies and Gentlemen.....announcing the new........er....Toyota Aygo.
xcrunk 12:49PM (10/20/2009)
Wow, the B segment is about to really heat up.
Honda, Ford/Mazda and Nissan with good looking entries.
If OIL continues to rise, these cars will sell like hotcakes.
Reply
fmwso 1:30PM (10/20/2009)
I like, hopefully they won't mess up the design.
Reply
odens 1:46PM (10/20/2009)
If this is two feet shorter than the Versa there is no use making a four door sedan. Heck, with this size why even put back seats in the car. This car should be under 10K (for a mid grade mode) if it wants to be successful. I do like the car and should be good competitor to the IQ and smart.
Reply
Judy Zik 10:23PM (10/20/2009)
Your comment hits the key problem with this car on the nail. People in America equate vehicle size to price. They will expect to pay significantly less than what a Versa costs to buy this and the Versa is generally already the cheapest vehicle on the market. As it stands Nissan has had to strip everything right down to the radio out of the base Versa to keep costs down. The Versa and likely this new model will be imported from Japan. With the US dollar tanking profit margins on imported vehicles are getting thin already. Unless Nissan plans on building these in North America this vehicle will either be too expensive to sell at volume or too cheap to be profitable.
Sofa King Fast! 2:04PM (10/20/2009)
The current generation Micra is a great car that everyone outside north america seems to enjoy. I hope they bring the Micra back to north america. Nissan really needs a competitor for the fit/fiesta/yaris
Reply
odens 2:17PM (10/20/2009)
They have the Versa a B-segment car (which is the best selling sub-compact so far this year), the Micra is an A-segment car.
Peugeot 5:29PM (10/20/2009)
No, the Versa is actually straddling the c-segment area. The Hatch is 169" long, and the Sedan is 176" long! The Yaris 3-door is 150" long (US bumper regulations). Lop 24" off of the Hatch, and you're at 145" inches......not too far off from a Yaris.
inline6 3:13PM (10/20/2009)
The sketches look good. For Nissan, these sketches seem to get everything right that Toyota got wrong with the Yaris.
Let's hope they actually translate well to sheetmetal.
Reply
Gerald 4:14PM (10/20/2009)
No 3dr hatch, no care.
Reply
David 6:22PM (10/20/2009)
That's just silly. The hatch is the important part. I wouldn't say "no" due to passenger doors on a car that I otherwise really liked. It's the same car! If anything, passenger doors are a bonus, and only augment functionality; whereas, the presence or absence of a hatch is a HUGE deal (trunks are dumb and too restrictive). Looks are important, but few cars' looks are "ruined" by virtue of passenger doors.
P.V. 5:17PM (10/20/2009)
Sweet! I look forward to seeing these here!
Reply
RockStoneSteel 10:22PM (10/20/2009)
I have to agree with the other bloggers. Not offering this as a two or three door is absurd. I can't imagine anyone buying something this size to haul more than one passenger. And so many people think of having a four door as added convenience, but in a car this size, all four doors would have to be inconveniently tiny. The true convenience would be to have two adult size doors which would be easier to get in and out of, in addition to not having the pesky B-pillar blocking the side view.
Having grown up in the 70's and 80's when most vehicles were offered in both two door and four door variants, I'm a bit dumbfounded by the sheer obsession manufacturers have with four door vehicles. I don't see the extra doors as added convenience but more of a nuisance. In fact, I'll bet access to the back seat of the Micra would be more convenient with two large doors rather than four dainty doors. Not to mention the car would look better.
Either way, while I like the general appearance of this vehicle, I know that it will be made cheap just like all the other small cars. It will be dumbed down with a torsion beam suspension, just like the Sentra and Versa. ...which also happen to only be offered as four door vehicles. Why can't anyone take a lesson from the Civic and Mini and recognize that small premium cars with two doors sell very well.
Reply
pringle 4:35PM (11/04/2009)
...and there I was thinking that Nissan would make something different....it's just a copy of a yaris....make something original will ya?!
Reply
Paul 1:10PM (11/13/2009)
Guys,
lets better say that we all need the inexpensive cars on our NA market.
No matter how small or bigger they will be. We were not able tio chose for all these uears sinc 70-th - we just forced to pay at least $20000 for any new car in Canada ! Damn it!
Give us a choise ! Is that a bad think that you would,t need to take a $20000 loan for 5-7 years ? Even if you have this money - can not you find a better way to us them to ease your life ? Don't play the stupid game offered to you by manufacturers who want just to increase their profit by not letting you buy what you really need - an inexpensive & economical car!
Reply