NISSAN GOES AFTER YOUNG BUYERS FOR NEW MICRA EV

The radically different new sixth-generation Nissan Micra has been created to appeal to younger, European buyers, in a bid to move the supermini away from being known as a "grandma car".

- WILL RIMELL

The newest generation of the popular hatchback—which has amassed more than 6 million sales since first being launched 42 years ago — has been fully revealed by the Japanese firm as a twin to Alliance partner Renault's electric 5.

This means it won't be sold with a combustion engine for the first time in its history.

The Micra is aimed squarely at buyers in Europe, a market in which Nissan is looking to grow after suffering heavy losses in recent years, necessitating a major costcutting plan.

It arrives as one of four new Nissan EVs due before the end of 2026, the others being the new Leaf crossover, an electric Juke and an A-segment model that will be twinned with the upcoming Renault Twingo.

The new Micra sits on the Ampr Small platform, drawing power from either a 40kWh or a 52kWh battery, which are good for 307 and 405km of range. In top-spec form, the battery can accept a charging rate of 100kW to go from 15-80% in 30 minute.

As with the 5, alongside which the Micra will be produced by Renault in Douai, France, power is sent to a single, front-mounted motor that can be tuned for 121bhp (with the 40kWh battery) or 148bhp (with the 52kWh battery).