Nissan is on a fast pace to revive the company’s presence on all horizons in India. The company has recently launched the facelifted Micra which is far-ahead of the previous model in terms of appeal. The aggressive pricing of the new Micra along with the introduction of Xtronic CVT transmission option have arrested the attention of new buyers in the segment. Nissan offers the Micra with two engine options, a 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre k9k diesel.
However a new 1.5-litre petrol engine is anticipated to join the lineup soon as the company is planning to launch the Nismo Micra in India. The company has showcased the Nismo Micra last month in Japan and has also started taking bookings for the model there. Nismo is the motorsport division of Nissan and has been redefining the stock models with their talent. The Micra’s exterior will be customized with sharply designed bumper that is loaded with DRLs and large air scoops, side skirts, ORVMs in cherry red color and Nismo badge on the grille.
The rear bumper of the Nismo Micra will be adorned with a black rocker sill and a performance exhaust. The interiors will geta subtle makeover like bucket seats with rich upholstery, red dial tachometer and padded steering wheel for better grip. Nismo has also tuned the suspension on the Japanese version which is also expected on the Indian model with large 16-inch tyres and sporty design alloy wheels. The company has launched two trims in Japan – Base and S. The base trim sports only exterior modification and comes only with CVT transmission and 1.2-litre petrol engine. This is expected for the India bound version too.
The S stands for ‘Sports’ and the Japanese version is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine that generates 114 BHP of power due to ECU re-mapping. The S trim on the Indian model will also be powered by the same power plant but it is more likely that the engine will produce 99 BHP as on the Nissan Sunny. It is also undeniable that Nissan might launch the Nismo Micra only with exterior beautification upgrades and new engine option instead of the suspension tune-up and performance exhaust to keep the price under the affordable bracket.
The Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI is an action-packed car in the hatchback segment but high price has discouraged performance seeking buyers. The Nismo Micra is also expected to arrive at Nissan outlets with a similar price tag of Rs. 8 to 9 lakhs. But if Nissan manages to position the Nismo Micra strategically as seen on the recently launched models, it might be a joyful drive in the segment. The launch will not happen soon as the company has just started taking bookings of the Nismo Micra in Japan and will start the delivery by the end of the year.
Source – Autocar India