24/06/2013 19:11
Nissan is aiming to firmly entrench itself as a top player in the small car market, revealing details of innovative technology and “bold” design in two models to be launched later this year.
The new Micra will be available this summer and a Note will arrive in the autumn - joining the Juke that recently hit the market - with Nissan believing the line-up represents the most “comprehensive, diverse and exciting” B-segment range around.
As evidence, it offers the engineering and design improvements of the Note, which is built in Sunderland and intended to compete with the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo. The Note features a monitor providing a 360-degree view when parking and the Nissan Safety Shield, which combines three systems to form a driver assistance and protection package. According to the manufacturer, the technologies are a first for the small car market.
The Micra also boasts innovation, from cabin technology designed to be useful for city drivers to Nissan’s Connect navigation and communication centre. It has sold six million units over 30 years and Nissan is staying true to its design, despite some new front and rear end looks.
Paul Willcox, senior vice-president for Nissan sales and marketing in Europe, believes the company’s development has reached a “significant moment”, with the two upcoming models accompanying the latest Juke.
"The arrival of the new European-built Note, new Micra and new-generation Juke diesel gives Nissan one of the most comprehensive small car ranges on the market,” he said. “All three have been designed and engineered to live up to the Nissan brand promise of delivering innovation that excites."
The 1.5dCi Juke represents the first time the car has featured a stop-start idle system as standard and torque has improved from 240 Nm to 260 Nm, with a 12.5 per cent improvement in fuel economy over the previous model.
Posted by Sebastian Turkenburg