Japanese car major Nissan recently announced that it will launch its much-awaited small car Micra in India in July, and the base model could cost less than Rs. 4 lakh.
“The new Nissan Micra will be launched nationwide on July 14, 2010,” the company said in a statement. The company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Nissan Motor India, will roll out the new Micra from its recently inaugurated facility at Oragadam near Chennai.
Nissan Micra will be the first ‘Made-in-India’ compact car from the Nissan family and it will be manufactured at the soon-to-be inaugurated plant at Oragadam, near Chennai. Sales of the new Micra will start in Thailand in March, in India in July and European sales will begin in November this year.
Focused on the theme of ‘keeping small cars simple’, the new Nissan Micra is developed and built on Nissan’s all-new V-Platform. The new Micra was designed and tested in Japan (named as March in Japan) to be built in at least four overseas locations such as Thailand, Mexico and China along with India.
Retaining the compact dimensions, the new car is slightly longer and marginally lower. The Micra comes with a much roomier interior, thanks to its longer wheelbase. The boomerang-shaped grooves on the roof and ‘connected cocoon’ design featuring a dashboard design takes the new Micra on a ‘twin bubble’ theme.
Globally, equipment levels differ by market, but the new Micra is available with some key technological innovations which are designed to simplify day-to-day life for its owners.
The new Micra is available with reversing sensors and a new ‘parking space measurement’ (PSM) device with three skill levels (amateur, normal and expert) to lessen the burden of parking in tight spaces.
It also offers Nissan Connect, an Intelligent Key, Nissan’s accessible touch-screen combined audio and satellite navigation system, glass roof, automatic wipers, speed sensitive volume on the audio, a push button start-stop system in addition to a drive computer which supplies drivers with real time fuel economy information, cruising range and outside temperature.
On the security side, the car is also fitted with a speed-sensitive automatic door locking system. In Europe, the Micra will be fitted with ABS, dual front airbags, curtain and side airbags, Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and pretensioner seatbelts as standard equipment.
“It is a victory day for Nissan and all Indian customers. The moment that we all at Nissan India have been waiting for has finally arrived. Fourth generation Micra has been designed in line with the discerning needs of the Indian customers and we believe that it is the right product at the right time,” said Kiminobu Tokuyama, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India Private Ltd (NMIPL). “We are on track to start production of this car in May 2010 and the sales would commence in July 2010. We will also be exporting the Micra to more than 100 countries including 35 countries in Europe from Sept 2010,” he added.
The company has earlier said that it will pit the new Micra, which comes with a 1.2 litre petrol engine, against Maruti’s Swift, Hyundai’s i10 and i20 — all priced between Rs 3.44 lakh and Rs 6.95 lakh.
Nissan Micra is available in four variants : -
Nissan Micra Features : -
- Intelligent Key System
- Push Button Ignition
- Request Switch
- Auto Climate Control
- SRS Airbags
- 4.65m Min. Turning Radius
- 18.06 kmpl mileage as per ARAI
Nissan Micra XE Features : -
Exteriors
Interiors
- Drive Computer
- Manual AC
- Interior Colour Scheme-Black
Comfort & Convenience
- Electric Power Steering
- Steering Tilt Adjustment
Safety
- Engine Immobilizer
- Driver Airbag
Nissan Micra XE + Features (Addition To XE variant) : -
Nissan Micra XE + comes with factory fitted accessories that includes the following additions : -
- OE Audio system with 4 speakers
- Seat cover – Fabric (Black & Silver color combination)
- Steering Wheel Cover (Pure Leather – Black & Silver color combination)
- Full Wheel cover
Nissan Micra XL Features (Addition To XE Variant) : -
Exteriors
- Full Wheel Covers
- Rear Wiper and Washer
Interior
- Tachometer
- Parcel Shelf
- Integrated audio system with 4 speakers aux-in port
Comfort & Convenience
- Power windows: Front and Rear with Drive Anti-pinch function
- Central Door lock
- Remote keyless entry
Safety
Same as XE variant
Nissan Micra XV Features (Addition To XL Variant) :-
Exterior
- Electric Park and Fold Mirror
- Door Mirror Electric adjustment
Interior
- Auto AC (Manual AC will not be equipped)
- Interior colour scheme – Greige
Comfort & Convenience
- Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition (Remote Keyless Entry – N/A)
Safety
- Front Passenger Airbag
- ABS + EBD + BA
- Front Fog Lamps
- Security Alarm
Nissan Micra Colours : -
- Sunlight Orange (M)
- Blade Silver (M)
- Storm White
- Pacific Blue (PM)
- Onyx Black
- Brick Red (M)
Nissan Micra Technical Specifications : -
Engine: | |
Code | HR12 |
Type | DOHC 12-Valve, 3-Cylinder In-line Petrol |
Displacement (cc) | 1198 |
Bore & Stroke (mm) | 78 x 83.6 |
Max Power (Kw (PS)/rpm | 56 (76)/6000 |
Max Torque Nm (kg-m)/rpm | 104 (10.6)/4000 |
Compression Ratio | 9.8 |
| |
Transmission: | |
Type | 5-speed manual |
| |
Steering/Suspension/Brakes: | |
Steering Type | Electric Power Assisted Rack & Pinion |
Min. Turning radius (m) | 4.65 |
Suspension (Front) | MacPherson strut |
Suspension (Rear) | Torsion Beam |
Brakes (Front) | Ventilated Disc |
Brakes (Rear) | Drum |
| |
Wheels/Tyres: | |
Wheels | 14 x 5.5J steel |
Tyres | 165/70R14 |
| |
Dimensions / Weights: | |
Overall Length(mm) | 3780 |
Overall width (mm) | 1665 |
Overall height (mm) | 1530 |
Wheelbase (mm) | 2450 |
Tread (Front mm) | 1470 |
Tread (Rear mm) | 1475 |
| |
Capacities: | |
Seating Capacity (Persons) | 5 |
Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres) | 41 |
Trunk Capacity (Litres) | 226 |
Nissan Micra Bangalore Price : -
Price | XE | XE+ | XL | XV |
Ex-showroom price | 395000 | 440000 | 480000 | 525000 |
Road tax (%) | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 15.4 |
Road tax (RS) | 56485 | 62920 | 68640 | 80850 |
Insurance (Rs) | 17932 | 19644 | 21166 | 22878 |
Handling charges (Rs) | 9500 | 9500 | 9500 | 9500 |
On-road price (Rs) | 478917 | 532064 | 579306 | 638228 |