New Nissan Micra gets 1.0-litre petrol engine in UK

Nissan UK has finally introduced its entry-level 1.0-litre petrol motor in the new Micra. While the new Micra had this motor since its global debut, the Japanese manufacturer didn’t introduce it when the Micra was launched in the UK last December. 

This new engine will join the 0.9-litre turbocharged 90bhp and 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engines. Nissan says this 1.0-litre petrol motor offers an excellent balance of performance and running costs. The company is claiming fuel efficiency of 26.10kmpl but in real world conditions, the figure would be much lesser. This 71bhp engine helps the car do 100kmph in 16.4 seconds. This three-cylinder naturally aspirated motor is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.

According to Nissan, they are expecting 20 per cent sales to come from this base engine model and the rest from the turbocharged petrol. The diesel version will get some numbers too, but due to its pricing, there won’t be many takers. Nissan developed the new fifth generation Micra hatchback specifically for the European customers. The outgoing model failed to get the right set of audience in the UK, as well as in the Indian market. In order to keep the quality at the superior end, the company shifted the new Micra production to the UK.  The overall design of the new Micra is quite dynamic and aggressive. The car is bigger, wider and spacious than the outgoing model. It has been designed to take on the Ford Fiesta. While the company hasn’t talked about it yet, but it would be interesting to see the Micra Nismo hit the market.