NISSAN MICRA

Japanese supermini reinvented as a French-built EV

- MATT SAUNDERS

The car industry has never been scrupulously fair.

Very often something just has to lose out, follow on or play second fiddle, especially if there's more money in it that way.

So has it been for the new Micra. Nissan's supermini has made the switch to a fully electric powertrain for its sixth generation, having never even been so much as a mild hybrid before. Nissan is claiming that this is something of an audacious move, intended to appeal to the younger clientele that it's hoping to attract relative to that of the retro-chic Renault 5.

It's an idea that was met with scepticism by journalists at the car's European press launch in Rotterdam last week. Because, as it might seem, at the very least, all Nissan has done here is to take Renault's 5, modify the headlights, bumper styling and body surfacing a bit and slap on some Nissan badges. The company admits to having done nothing whatsoever to differentiate the Micra from its sister car 'mechanically' - which is to say with its drivetrain, chassis or suspension hardware or tuning. Doesn't sound very audacious, does it? Rather the opposite.

To a significant extent, though, the derisory status that move would seem to confer on this car is really the net effect of its timing, as much as its particular execution. The 5 came along first, so it has been made to look like the template and donor car - and not by accident, you have to assume. But is it really?