Micra in US?

[Ion Pulse]

Nissan is contemplating bringing the excellent new Micra to the US. Nissan are hoping to build on the sucess of small cars such as the MINI,Toyota Echo and Chevrolet Aveo, which have done well in the US. This is all down to fears over fuel. In my opinion this is exactly what the US needs some good small cars compared with the rather rubbishy korean throw backs, the Micra might even tempt them away from the V8-guzzelers.


European Nissan Micra 3dr

[Benelli5]

In my opinion it looks horrible. But I bought a Sentra for exactly the same reasons you are talking about. I wish they would start making this super-economical cars like the Hybrid, Prius, and Echo look a little better, I think even more people would consider getting one. But I do agree with you that we need more economical options out there.

[Ion Pulse]

The Micra's looks have divided opinion in Europe too, but they grow on you. It is a seriously good car with excellent interior space with clever cubby-holes and high driving poisition. Nissan are also releasing a Roadster version and a hot version(tuned by Nismo). I don't know, they may restyle it for American tastes.

[Benelli5]

If the car is built really well and is well designed then it definately has a chance. There are plenty of cars on the road that I personally dont like the looks of but many/most others do. Giving people more choices can only be a good thing.

[VQuick]

The Cube is supposed to be coming in '06 to slot in under the Sentra, which will be going upmarket. Bringing the March/Micra makes sense, too.

They might be looked at as Scion competitors, and they probably will be. It'd be cool if the Datsun name was brought back like Carlos Ghosn wanted, and it could be a youth brand, offering a few other cars(Silvia???). The thing is, there are old people buying Scions too, so why alienate them? Nissan can just sell the Cube, March/Micra as Nissans and not suffer from that problem.

This is the March 12SR. Autoweek loved it, and wants them in the US now:

Originally Posted by Autoweek

Our second drive was in a hot-rodded Japan-market March called the 12SR, the same car our Japanese correspondent gushed over earlier this year (Jan. 5). The ultra-cute three-door weighs a pinch more than 2000 pounds and its 1.2-liter four-cylinder puts out 107 hp and 99 lb-ft of torque. It is sporty in much the way a Mini is sporty.

It constantly reminds you of the adage that it’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. It’s so much fun, in fact, that a racing series for 12SRs in Japan exists that we’d like to enter. Or start one in the US when the cars arrive, whenever that may be.

We need more small, fun cars like the Mini here. It would also help if they could be a bit cheaper, too. The March could probably pull that off. A March "SE-R" with a NISMO suspension and the 126hp QG18DE from the base model Sentra wouldn't be a bad idea at all.

Nissan might not be able to get a one-make racing series for the March started in the States, but it could always offer a free SCCA membership or something like that. My friend got one when he bought a WRX.

Impul can tune the March/Micra, too. Among other things, they have a supercharger that adds another 30hp.


Can't forget the Micra C+C concept, either. If it made production, it could be the cheapest folding hardtop sold in the US.

[1viadrft]

I would soooooo buy a Micra/March... they can be modded to be little firecrakers like the Scions! Lets just hope they don't grow two more doors if they do move Stateside...

[VQuick]

The March/Micra is already available in four door form...and don't ever mention it next to a Scion. It makes the Nissan look bad.

[1viadrft]

Originally Posted by VQuick

The March/Micra is already available in four door form...

In the US? What Model? I must REALLY be out of it...

[VQuick]

It isn't in the US at all, but they already have four doors available. It'd be reasonable to assume we'd get both models.

[Ion Pulse]

I've never heard of a 4door version of the current generation Micra, or even the previous generation for that matter.

Have you mistakened the 5door hatch or is there actually 4dr Sedan version.

If there is post a picture.

[VQuick]

I was talking about the 5dr hatch.