New Nissan Micra unveiled at Paris Motor Show

Nissan has unveiled the fifth-generation Micra hatchback at the Paris Motor Show. Based on the Sway concept that was showcased last year, the car will first go on sale in the European markets, while the company has not revealed any plans about its India launch.

Nissan has retained most of the design cues of the Sway concept in the new Micra. It gets the company's signature V-motion grille, which is surrounded by boomerang shaped, sweptback headlights. The grille integrates with the bonnet to form a prominent character line that runs throughout the side profile of the car, and meets the tail lamps. The side profile is characterized by a sloping roofline, a blacked out C-pillar, and dual-tone alloy wheels. The rear door handles have been integrated in the C-pillar. At the rear, the tail lamps too get a boomerang shape, and wrap around onto the car's fender. There is a roof-mounted spoiler, while the rear bumper gets a blacked out area.

The Japanese automaker has given the new Micra various safety related technologies, such as lane departure prevention, emergency braking system with pedestrian recognition, traffic sign recognition, high beam assist, and Blind spot warning. The top-end model also gets an infotainment system with a 7-inch display that is compatible with Apple CarPlay, supports navigational functions, and is connected to a 6-speaker Bose sound system.

Powertrain options on the Micra include a 0.9-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, and a 1.5-litre diesel unit. Both these engines develop 90 BHP. The company will soon be introducing a 1.0-litre, naturally aspirated petrol engine that develops 73 BHP.