Nissan Micra sprouts offshoots

As these sketches show, the peppy new Micra is evolving and Nissan Australia has bigger plans for the little hatch.

Unlike the current Micra, which is available as a single four-door 1.4-litre for $15,990, the Japanese carmaker is looking to expand the model makeup. That means a three-door, as well as a cheaper manual model, are on the cards.

In other markets the current car is also available with 1.2-litre or 1.6-litre four-cylinder engines. However, Nissan Australia spokesman, Jeff Fisher, is coy on predictions of just what models will arrive or the likely engines. "We'll have a manual but a three door? I'm not sure about that," he says.

Nissan's newest mini will be critical in helping the company's push to becoming the leading import brand over the next three years. Nissan Australia managing director, Dan Thompson, has set the challenge to be the number 1 importer by 2012.

The car is set to hit local showrooms late next year after debuting at the Geneva Motor Show in March. As the images show, the Micra does not deviate too much from the proven cheeky design formula of the current car. It will retain the similar compact dimensions but is expected to get slightly more cabin room, will be safer and better equipped. Nissan may also choose to leverage its Renault ties by introducing an small ultra-frugal turbo-diesel.

Fisher says the new Micra will be a much more significant player for the brand than the current car, which is consistently selling about 500 a month. "It's been a good performer," Fisher says. "In fact it has outperformed our forecasts."

Nissan Australia reintroduced the Micra badge in 2007 after a lacklustre foray into the local market back in the mid-1990s ."The whole idea of the current car was to get people more aware of the name and we were able to get it at a knockout price," Fisher says.

Apart from the sketches, few other details are known, but Nissan has confirmed that it will go into production alongside the Tiida in Thailand from next March. It will also be built in India, where Suzuki sources its micro Alto hatch, as well as China. "There are a couple of possibilities about sourcing," Fisher says.

The next-generation Micra, along with the front-drive Dualis and replacement for the Tiida hatch, are part of Nissan's bid to overtake Mazda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi as the country's favourite all-import brand. However, Fisher says the current Tiida will soldier on for a few years. He also hosed down speculation that the next-generation small hatch and sedan would revert to the better known Pulsar name of the previous car.