2011 | Nissan | Micra ST | NRMA driver # 39; seat
The new Nissan Micra - the fourth generation to wear the name - represents a new chapter in the history of multi-award winning Nissan compact city car.
The European segment city car is one of the most hotly contested segments in a market in the world for this reason, Nissan Micra has been designed from design, engineering, powertrain and equipment levels for make driving the European city stress-free as possible, but also remain accessible.
A pair of new three displacement gasoline engine cylinders power 1 2 New liters Micra entry version is a normally aspirated input of 59kW 80PS unit that produces a remarkably low 115 g km CO2, but even this is overshadowed by the second version this is a direct injection petrol engine with a compressor to increase the power of 98PS 72kW CO2 emissions, meanwhile, tumble to just 95 g km so the efficiency of these new petrol engines new Nissan Micra will not be offered with a diesel option the supercharged version will be introduced in Europe from spring 2011 These low CO2 figures are normally made only by diesel cars, which command a price premium, so new Nissan Micra offer low emissions, but not worth the usual price.
The range of models is simple with just a five-door body style, two engine options and two transmission choices - either a five-speed manual or continuously compact very advanced CVT variable transmission.
Grades follow traditional Nissan practice with Visia followed by Acenta and Tekna All models have power steering, air conditioning, electric front windows and the ESP electronic stability program as standard - unusual in the segment of city cars.
Acenta adds an upgraded audio system, automatic climate control and cruise control among other functions, while the range in Tekna head has rarely seen technology in large cars let alone a compact city car as well as Nissan Connect, a system combined satellite navigation and entertainment, Tekna versions offer measurement standard parking slot.
PSM automatically measures potential drivers parking spaces if the counselor Nissan Micra equip or not is an ideal feature for a city car.
With more than 5 to 65 million revenue for nearly 30 years, Nissan Micra is a great favorite with customers new Micra will appeal to loyal Micra buyers, of course, but its stylish look, quality improvement and dynamic abilities will also appeal to new customers, said Vincent Cobee The importance of a figure under 100g CO2 can not be underestimated.
We have developed an attractive car for Europe which is light but sturdy and offers a very competitive roominess and features, as well as high-end energy efficiency and low emissions Nissan Micra is a car that is designed to make the conduct daily in a typical European city as simple and easy as possible.
New exterior design Nissan Micra will be sold in no less than 160 countries, it must also appeal to families in Shanghai, sophisticated singles in Paris, Tokyo and more city dwellers.
As the brand's design director Nissan, Koji Nagano, explains First, the car must target a very wide range of people in the world and it must meet a multitude of needs in one package.
The second challenge was designing a first-class level of quality inside and out just because a car is compact, it doesn t mean customers will accept lower standards of quality - we know our customers expect the best our job was to raise the bar of quality while achieving our third goal of creating a compact car that offers a special touch of design flair.
While many Nissan Micra 15 years peers have grown to the extent that they are now there in a higher sub-segment, the new Micra has stayed true to its true city car heritage and is virtually the same size as It Sá the outgoing model decision that makes perfect sense for a European compact city car of the whole, the new Nissan Micra is slightly longer, slightly wider and lower fraction.
From the standpoint of design, the key feature that defines Micra's character is its profile and, in particular, the graph of central arched side window to its heritage and loved in Europe and Japan, that feature has been retained on the new car and, if anything, is accentuated by a more prominent rear spoiler integrated into the roof.
The general form, however, is bolder than its predecessor with a round of strong and distinctive rounded fold height above the thresholds front and rear treatments, however, are quite different.
However, the new design does not compromise the visibility throughout renowned Nissan Micra, which is the key easier, stress-free driving in the city, as in previous generations of Micra, from the driver's seat there is a view over the road and the ends, allowing maneouvres with confidence in tight spaces.
According to Makoto Yamane, Associate Product Chief Designer face Micra is stylish and has an air of sophistication, but at the same time it is accessible like a friend you can rely on.
Sculptural, look in three dimensions comprises a major grid which defines the drive from the presence of the road The gate into two parts is divided by the front bumper above the line is a thin opening divided by a chrome bar on Acenta and Tekna models and surmounted by a withdrawal of the badge housing Nissan below the bumper, a larger opening extends substantially the entire width of the vehicle and accommodates the front license plate on models Tekna, the grid has a distinctive chrome trim look is completed by slightly rounded headlights of a single piece.
Like its predecessor, raised front wings help the driver place the car on the road more accurately, while the low waist also provides excellent visibility on each side.
At the rear, the deep tailgate is flanked by a single piece assemblies tail light while the bumper comprises a net cutaway for the registration plate a central high mounted stop lamp is integrated into the roof spoiler.
Aerodynamics played an important role in defining the overall shape of Nissan Micra The roof, for example, was incorporated with grooves shaped boomerang that help reduce resonance in the cabin, especially at higher speeds at the same time as the total weight reduction of up to 2kg stylish roof design, with pronounced rear spoiler combine to minimize drag to help the economy and reduce emissions.
Below the car, the base has been designed to improve the air flow and to maximize the supporting force improving the coefficient of stability at high speed drag Nissan Micra is a laudable 0 33.
All these features contribute to the achievement of an elegant vehicle obvious quality in the world market.
This is exactly what we have done, says Yamane-san This design makes it a more practical car with great all-round visibility By lowering the center of gravity and positioning the wheels at the extreme corners of the car, we were able to stretch the wheelbase and increase the track for a bolder position and a greater stability.
An essential part of the road presence of the improved car just his waistline and strong rounded contours that generate a feeling of robustness The style is organic - it fits you perfectly and offers a stress-free driving.
Interior design in order to create the same sense of style inside the Nissan Micra that is outside, the design team adopted a cocoon approach logged One example is the design of the dashboard - a theme double bubbles - which corresponds to the circular cockpit instrument with a similarly shaped front passenger glovebox This double layer glove box is completed by a large upper storage area while other small storage pockets are located in the car, including the center console and doors.
Easy to read instruments are housed in three circular dials while the heating and ventilation, audio and other controls are logically placed and easy to use.
A proportion of European customers may be downsizing into a city car if their kids have left home, for example, but they do not want to feel that they must accept a compromise on interior space.
Intelligent engineering solutions provided by the V-platform means that the slightly longer wheelbase has increased interior space compared to the previous generation Nissan Micra, improving entry and exit for all occupants the long roof line, meanwhile, ensures that Micra offers sufficient back up, so that the new global interior spaciousness of Nissan Micra is difficult to reconcile with its compact exterior dimensions.
Throughout the design process, weight gain is a key factor and was achieved by reducing the number of parts at the same time as improving quality New Nissan Micra has, on average, 18 percent fewer components than the same size car his dashboard contains only 28 parts instead of more than 50.
No less than four interior color combinations models to complete a bold black exterior palette is available for the three classes, gray on Visia and Acenta with dramatic ivory interior color and plum available on Tekna models only.
exterior colors embrace traditional colors such as red, gray, black, white and silver with three highly individual shades in Spring Green, Tangerine and Nightshade.
Platform of the new Nissan underlying Micra is an equally new platform and, in time, will feature widely across comprehensive range of Nissan Not for nothing as he was called V-platform, where V stands versatile.
Micra is its first outing, but Nissan has already announced that it will also be the basis of a new saloon and an MPV in due time.
The key elements of the V-platform are strength and light weight even if it is slightly larger than the output Nissan Micra - the wheelbase has increased by 20 mm to 2450 mm, for example - the platform has been designed for optimum rigidity for excellent handling characteristics associated with a refined ride, but at the lowest possible weight for enhanced performance, strong fuel efficiency and low emissions These seemingly contradictory requirements had to be reconciled to achieve new Micra stated aim of meeting the expectations of customers who drive - and park - everyday in European cities, famous for their heavy traffic, limited parking opportunities, poor road and increasing the tax burden on emissions.
weight gain on the platform have been reflected by reductions in weight wise addition of the 41-liter fuel tank, for example, is 2 2kg lighter than the outgoing Nissan Micra; the exhaust system has more than one central silencer, reducing the weight of 2kg 3 and the front suspension system is lighter by 9kgs.
Likewise, the seats are lighter, the dashboard uses fewer parts and smaller engines Even the roof panel is lighter by 2kgs Overall Nissan Micra boasts a curb weight starting at just 915 kg, 35 kg less than its predecessor.
The K12 Micra was well respected for his management and compromise driving and Nissan's engineers felt that was an obvious place to start when creating its successor New Nissan Micra, therefore, a provision similar suspension at a front end independent by MacPherson struts with coil springs and a rear axle twist beam compact designed to minimize intrusion into the luggage compartment.
Both suspension systems are mounted on frames in order to isolate the road noise, vibration and harshness and there is an anti-roll bar at each end and, Micra suspension, steering and brakes set-ups have developed by Nissan European engineers to meet the needs of customers whose conduct day to day will be at higher average speeds and on smoother roads than those in other regions will be sold Nissan Micra.
But because the V platform is more rigid than ever, the suspension can work more efficiently to provide more accurate steering with greater feel and precision while it is less brake dive and not to acceleration particular attention was paid to shock absorption - thanks to the adoption of suspension travel long travel - Micra goes exceptionally well on even the most challenging road surfaces.
Best of all, agility and responsiveness characteristic of Nissan Micra have been preserved, indeed enhanced by the lighter weight of the chassis to provide an experience of driving dynamics.
Electric power steering is standard on all models, and helps provide Micra with a first-class turning radius of only 4 65m for the ultimate maneuverability in tight city streets.
The car is designed to absorb the forces of a frontal impact, thanks to the sophisticated crumple zone at the front of the car, while maintaining cabin integrity due to very reinforced hull.
the standard safety equipment includes the braking system which has front discs and drums behind, with ABS, EBD and brake assist Nissan Micra also has two front airbags, curtain side air bags, and belt pretensioner active security security is enhanced by mounting electronic stability Program ESP at all levels, which cuts off the power supply and even the brakes of the individual wheels when sensors detect that the stability or adhesion is essential.
Nissan's commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its products and activities can be clearly seen in the fact that 98 percent of materials used in the Micra construction are recyclable - a factor that is likely to be increasingly important that legislators across the world consider steps to protect the environment.
Engines Nissan Micra drivetrain choice is simplicity itself in Europe, the car will be offered with two engines and two transmission options The car will be petrol only, with power coming from a new engine 1 2-liter three-cylinder available in two detuned states and coupled with a manual five-speed or a newly developed continuously variable transmission CVT.
The decision to offer only petrol and not diesel is the result of the market and analysis of detailed customer, showing that European small car buyers have to pay a significant premium for low levels of CO2 - the most often by buying a diesel variant Nissan decided that the ideal solution was an advanced petrol engine, balancing power, torque, consumption and emissions that would be offered as part of a simple powertrain line Installation this means the customer no longer has to pay a premium to drive a city car with lower CO2 emissions - this option would be standard.
At launch, lead in version 80PS 59kW will produce only 115 grams of CO2 per km.
Good though these figures are, even they are overshadowed by the second version of the engine direct injection This unit uses a highly advanced supercharger to boost power to 72kW 98PS and 142Nm of torque, and reduce CO2 emissions 95g km - it is an exceptional achievement for a petrol engine the introduction of this engine in Europe will follow in spring 2011.
Both engines comply with the philosophy of Pure Drive Nissan blue badge and discreet silver signifying an engine that emits less than 130g km.
The production of only 115 g of CO2 per km, the standard engine is among the cleanest engines in the world, but producing much less than 100g km allied to strong economy and spirited performance, the supercharged direct injection version will set a new benchmark for modern engine technology when it arrives in early 2011.
It is with this overall performance in mind that we decided, very early in the development of the new Micra, to prevent diesel engines for Europe and to offer two engines that have been developed with European needs in mind our new petrol units produce diesel-like economy and emissions with petrol and refinement of performance and are less expensive to buy than an equivalent diesel and notably lighter simply, they offer the best of worlds, said Pierre Loing.
As the name implies, the HR12DE units are closely related to gasoline engine HR16 respected four-cylinder found in the Note, Juke and Qashqai.
Both engines displace 1,198cc and are lightweight, compact 12-valve units and highly effective Careful design has ensured that inherent imbalances expected from a three-cylinder engine have been overcome vibration at idle, for example, was eradicated by the inclusion of an offset counter weight on the crank pulley generating an oval motion which cancels the vertical vibration caused by piston travel as a result, the HD12 unit has NVH levels expected from a four-cylinder unit.
In addition to benefiting from being lighter and more compact for packaging easier, with fewer moving parts of the unit three-roll reduces internal friction and improves the thermal efficiency of low friction techniques include pistons circular bore, the adoption of a hydrogen-free diamond-like carbon DLC coating for piston rings and an oil pump variable displacement Together, these factors contribute to reduce the friction by up to 30 percent, compared to conventional four-cylinder engines with similar performance.
Other technologies to optimize energy efficiency include valve timing control VTC with eco-mode, the exhaust gas recirculation for improved combustion, low friction and the water of oil pumps, pistons Upper machine and a high compression ratio.
Normal suction HR12DE product version numbers power and torque 80PS 59kW at 6000 rpm and 110 nm to 4000 rpm to a maximum speed of 170 km h and 0-100 h to 13 7 seconds combined use is 5 0l 100km CVT 4l 5 km, while CO2 emissions are 115 g km for the manual version and 125 g km for the CVT model.
Power and torque figures for the supercharged version will be 72kW and 142Nm 98PS, while CO2 emissions are 95 g km for the manual version and 118 g km for the CVT model numbers subject to approval.
This represents an average improvement of 25 percent in fuel economy on output 1 2 liters Nissan Micra while emissions are a remarkable 75 percent lower than the levels emitted there five years.
Transmissions The standard transmission in both versions is a manual gearbox five specific speeds driving the front wheels but new Micra will also be available with a highly sophisticated CVT This brand new transmission adopts a number of advanced technologies - it's first CVT the world a secondary planetary gear system for example - for the ultimate in smooth efficiency.
It also has the highest ratio of transmission of the world - 7 3 1 - allowing the transmission to deliver an enviable combination of good low speed response with strong high speed economy.
The adoption of a sub-planetary gear allows the use of smaller pulleys which means it's greater distance between the pulleys and the oil surface in the transmission This results in a reduction of the amount of oil stirring with moving parts which, in turn, means less friction.
Smaller components including an ultra flat torque converter results in a unit which is 10 percent smaller and about 13 percent lighter than previous systems.
Equipment and model lines Just like its predecessors new Nissan Micra is generously equipped as standard as well as introducing a number of innovative items of equipment that are designed to make driving less demanding city - and not more than a parking aid.
Although these products have appeal indisputable exposure, they only found their way on the list of specifications Micra because they are typical of life from day to day the European Micra owner in the city simpler and easier .
Micra now follows familiar pattern quality Nissan range starting with Visia and Acenta moving through before getting up version Tekna.
Externally the versions differ subtly Visia 14 inch wheels of steel and the handles Black door and mirrors while Acenta has 15 inch steel wheels, a black B-pillar between the rear end front doors, the colored handles body and mirrors and a chrome flash on the gate Tekna variants can be identified by chromium frame on the lower air intakes, front fog lamps and 15 inch alloy wheels.
All Nissan Micra models have a full complement of active and passive safety equipment ESP standard across the range every Nissan Micra has front, side and curtain airbags, head restraints in the rear and anti-lock brakes lock speed sensitive automatic door is also standard.
Are also standard steering column with adjustable tilt, remote central locking, a board computer and electric front windows.
practical use include a clean bag holder integrated into the front passenger seat to prevent rolling luggage around the cabin when the cabin is in motion the seat is hinged in the middle allowing the rearmost section to be folded over the side leaving a good portion purses or bags can be lowered.
Acenta, probably the biggest seller, adds automatic air conditioning, cruise control with speed limiter, electric mirrors, a front armrest and adjustable driver seat's height steering wheel and gearshift knob are leather covered while the system car entertainment updated to include a CD player with auxiliary input installation and four speakers It also includes Bluetooth connectivity for mobile phone use.
Tekna models introduce Nissan Connect to the Micra, a set of fully integrated entertainment and information incorporating satellite navigation touch screen with a five-inch color display, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and audio streaming from a suitable device, auxiliary input and USB ports, plus a six loudspeaker system.
The navigation system uses mapping clear road rather than turn-by-turn guides more basic cheaper systems and can be programmed in any of nine languages including Russian maps, which can easily be made update via an SD card, cover Western Europe, Eastern europe and Russia.
By integrating information from positioning sensors and vehicle speed, the system does not suffer from loss of signal when driven through a tunnel or hidden by buildings of the city high-rise.
The system also incorporates TMC Traffic Message Channel, which uses a second radio tuner to receive traffic flow information and news of incidents on major routes Treating these traffic data in real time, the system may suggest faster routes replacement, if necessary, to save time and reduce emissions.
Standard on Tekna, Nissan Connect is available as an option on the standard Acenta versions are automatic headlights and wipers, electrically folding mirrors linked to the intelligent key system optional - still a rare feature in the segment of city cars - with a Smart Start pushbutton engine and the stop function and a display of the complete matrix information dashboard in addition to providing information about fuel consumption, driving range, outside temperature and so on, it can also be programmed so that the Nissan Micra wishes its owner a happy birthday on the appropriate date.
Another example of how Nissan has pioneered relevant mounting technology of Nissan Micra is innovative and easy to use measuring PSM parking slot is standard on Tekna and optional on Acenta grades.
Reflecting likely role as a city car Nissan Micra, PSM helps a driver establish whether a parking space is big enough for the car driver eases alongside a space he activates PSM via a push button on the dash edge and then selects the appropriate turn signal to tell the system which side of the car, he should check.
Assuming that the speed of the car is less than 25 km h, sensors then scan the space tells the driver whether it is appropriate or not displayed via a dashboard screen suggests that it is OK if space is more than 100 cm longer than the car DIFFICULT if it is between 60 to 99cms longer than the car, and not recommended if less 60cms then it is the driver to decide to park or not.
These tolerance levels can be adjusted to reflect the driver confidence and skill - Amateur, Normal and Expert - while the sensors are accurate enough to spot small obstacles such as bollards, traffic cones and so on When PSM is specified it comes complete with traditional reversing sensors which operate whenever reverse is selected and give both audible and visual warnings Nissan Micra is the only car in its class to offer PSM.
Among the options, one of the most popular will undoubtedly be a glass roof covering the entire front half of the car virtually from the leading edge of the rear window to the B-pillars and extending virtually the entire width of the car transforming the interior Micra by bathing it in natural light, the roof also features an integrated inner curtain for when the sun is too hot for comfort.
Nissan Micra is a small car that thinks big, but is designed to introduce innovations that facilitate stress and increase enjoyment of the city daily driving elements such as the glass roof are usually only on cars from top B segment range, then you have to switch to cars much larger and more expensive to find advanced technology like PSM.
But, as ever with Nissan, none of the features available either as standard or as an option on Micra can be considered frivolous Each technical progress - be it PSM lights or automatic connectivity Login or Bluetooth - is presented Nissan Micra, as it helps its driver, said Vincent Wijnen.
2011 NISSAN Micra evaluation pictures Japanese car 2011 nissan micra.