Currently reading: New Nissan Micra spied
Autocar reader lands first spy shots of new Micra

The new Nissan Micra has been spied testing in the UK.

Spotted by autocar.co.uk reader Mark Waites, the heavily disguised car was running on the M1, heading back to Nissan's Technical Centre in Cranfield, which is undertaking much of the development work on the car.

While Waites was unable to get a close up picture of the whole car, his photos clearly show the distinctly curved rear end of the car and the overall shape of it.

See the spy pics of the new Nissan Micra

See the official pics of the new Nissan Micra

The new Micra will be the first car to be built on a new global small car platform, designed to be cheap enough to build and sell in developing markets but also sophisticated enough for Western Europe.

Nissan claims car makers usually take an existing platform and strip content from it for use in emerging markets. This project takes a platform engineered primarily for those areas, then adapts it for mature markets.

The ‘V-platform’ will underpin cars up to 1600kg in weight and with a maximum torque output of 147lb ft. This means the largest engine fitted to the family of small cars will be a 1.5-litre turbodiesel. The first three cars to use it will be the Micra replacement, a small MPV and a small saloon.

Engineered by Nissan in Japan, the platform project focused on reductions in weight and the number of components.

The V-cars have 18 per cent fewer parts than Nissan’s previous small cars, according to the firm. The dashboard assembly is made up of 28 parts instead of 56 and the seats are now made up of 50 parts, down from 85.

Nissan says much effort went into maximising refinement, in light of the lightweight construction. Engineering tricks include more rigid floor pressings, isolation of suspension from the floor and shapes pressed into the roof to reduce resonance.

The majority of V-platform cars will be powered by new, low-friction three-cylinder engines, which will come in 0.9 and 1.2-litre capacities. Most versions will probably feature turbochargers.

Nissan engineers say the combination of lightweight engineering and torquey engines could deliver significantly better fuel economy than rival vehicles.

The company has also engineered a new, very compact, low-friction CVT transmission, which has a much higher top ratio than normal.

The V-platform has been primarily engineered for comfort on the demanding roads in emerging markets such as India and China. For Western versions of the V-cars, extra emphasis will be placed on refinement and body control.

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Nissan Micra
Its ambition is to be a world player, so will it show world-class ability?

The Nissan Micra is a supermini offering low running costs but in most other areas is below the class average

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CapsLock 29 November 2009

Re: New Nissan Micra spied

-thanks nissan trader - it is great that the Qazana is coming and the batteries and hopefully the Leaf, it would have been great if we could have had the micra also!!

-but it still more jobs for Nissan UK!! - go Nissan!!

nissantrader 29 November 2009

Re: New Nissan Micra spied

The new Micra will be a globel car built in 3 factories none of which will be in the uk. the Micra will be replaced on the production line with the Qazana. probably to keep costs down as the current micra is looking a little pricy these days.

CapsLock 29 November 2009

Re: New Nissan Micra spied

-Paul123, i am not sure, i thought the micra was staying, i thought some were being built in india targeted at developing markets and the EU ones built here - but i could be totally wrong?? - but at least some engineering work was done here which is great.

- some reports suggest that it will not be made there any more and some that say no official confirmation has been given?? so i was not sure, i was thinking as per the above - but apologies if totally incorrect!

-they are definately getting the Qazana (!!!!) - which is super cool and i have seen there is gossip that the EU Leaf production will come to the UK - they have already got the batteries (as i understand!!)

-but if it has definately been descided re. micra please do post; i know they are bringing more and more to the plant i.e. the batteries and the fantastic Qazana but it would have been nice if the micra was still there also! - but, still more jobs for the UK thanks to Nissan and all its workers and of course all its UK workers!! (who work hard and do a great job!!)