The current Nissan Micra lives in the shadow of the Renault Clio. Its replacement, expected in 2025, hopes to take advantage of the spotlight on the future Renault 5 E-Tech Electric. Change of style and course for the Japanese versatile sedan
The current Nissan Micra, the K14 type, launched in 2017, is derived from the Renault Clio IV. The versatile Japanese sedan was not quite a “reskin”, a change of skin in the jargon of the designers, of its counterpart in the Renault-Nissan Alliance. But the synergy between the two brands has led to a first-rate technical rapprochement.
R5, Micra: same fight!
The next generation of the Nissan Micra, which should be presented in 2025 for an arrival on the market in 2026, will of course retain a Renault base, but no more sharing with the Clio. The sixth Micra of the name will change its tune and take over the technical basis of the iconic Renault 5 E-Tech Electric expected, meanwhile, in early 2024. The reason is simple, like many models in its segment (B), the Nissan Micra will go electric. An essential turning point to ensure the survival of the versatile which was for a time in the hot seat. In the upper segments, in Europe, Nissan is focusing on crossovers and SUVs.
TO READ. Nissan Micra 6 (2025). The future cousin of the electric Renault 5
“French” Japanese women are born in the North
This transition from thermal to electric will also be marked by a change in the production site: the Micra will therefore abandon the Flins factory in the Yvelines (78) (end of 2022 according to our information) in favor of that of Douai (59) where the Renault 5 will also be assembled.
“The Nissan Micra will abandon the industrial site of Flins (78) to invest that of Douai (59)“
At any rate, the future Micra will remain made in France. An argument that the Japanese will share with her compatriots, the twins, with the logo, Toyota Yaris and Mazda 2, both produced less than fifty kilometers away, in the Onnaing factory, in the suburbs of Valenciennes (59).
TO READ. Renault Renault. Production at the Douai plant since 1970
A rounded Micra, an angular R5.
If the future Renault 5 E-Tech Electric is openly inspired by the geometric lines and flat surfaces of its ancestor, who is celebrating her 50th birthday this year, thehe Nissan Micra doesn’t care about looking like one of its ancestors. Remember that the original Micra was born just thirty years ago.
On the contrary, opportunistic Nissan designers have eyed upscale models, which are already the stars in the niche of city vehicles on hold. So, at first glance, the muzzle of the Micra ape, with its roundness and high-tech headlights, so large that they literally ate the hood, so much the electric Fiat 500 than the Mini Cooper SE. To be connected, between them, the logo also lights up.
But on closer inspection, these two imposing ovoid strapping clearly evoke the protruding eyes of the third generation Nissan Micra. Launched in 2002, the latter, which bears the code K12, remained in the catalog until 2010 and met with great success. A resemblance that can also be found on the contours of the sides. On the other hand, at the rear quarter where is the rear door handle, the connection between the future Nissan Micra and Renault 5 is obvious. The glazing will also be common as well as the entire body structure.
The Nissan Micra would like to steal some of the customers of its Italian and English adversaries that it would not do otherwise. At the rear, its curvaceous stern and the circular outline of its lights evoke, from certain angles, another chic multi-purpose saloon, the Alfa Romeo MiTo. But it is no longer a rival, it disappeared in 2018.
To ensure its move upmarket, the Nissan Micra uses the codes of the tenors of the category, in particular with the help of a two-tone livery guaranteeing a fairly extensive customization. It remains to be seen whether this more chic presentation will not drive up the bill too much knowing that the R5 will start at around €22-24,000. Finally, in the event that the Japanese firm would like to boost the Micra, the technical proximity with the future Alpine A5 will make it possible to offer a 218 hp Nismo variant at a lower cost. But nothing is done! Like the R5, the Japanese will offer a 136 hp engine powered by a 42 or 52 kWh battery
TO READ. Alpine A5 vs. Renault 5 Electric. The similarities, the differences?
