Nissan adds Micra

Nissan will use the Melbourne International Motor Show (MIMS) to announce the opening shot in a revitalisation of its passenger car range. And that opening shot is Micra, the company's long-standing and internationally successful light car.

Nissan officials are tight-lipped but CarPoint/Carsales can now confirm the quirky UK-styled and built hatch will be displayed at Melbourne and the model's introduction into the market will be confirmed at the show.

Nissan will display at least one other new-to-Australia model at MIMS -- tipped to be the Qashqai crossover. In addition, the company will launch its updated and more powerful 2007-model 350Z sports coupe at the show.

Micra has been an on-again off-again model for Nissan in Australia. Just six months ago it seemed unlikely the car would come Down Under in this generation. The growth in the Aussie Light car segment has seemingly sealed the deal for the importer which is on the record saying it plans to almost double its coverage of the Australian passenger car market in the next two years.

CarPoint/Carsales sources can reveal that despite the car's age -- the current generation Micra was first launched in 2002 -- it has tested well in local consumer focus group clinics.

With Nissan aggressively repositioning its Tiida recently, the company is expected to debut the Micra with a sub-$15,000 pricetag when it arrives in the last quarter of this year.

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