- Nissan is set to reveal the new electric Nissan Micra later this year, marking the long-running model’s switch to EV, over 40 years since the budget city car originally launched.
- Thanks to the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, the Micra EV, will be based on the same AmpR as seen in the upcoming Renault 5 EV, with the Micra likely to gain a very similar form factor and level of range and performance.
- Like the Renault 5, the Micra will only be offered in electric form, with ICE options no longer available.
The Nissan Micra goes electric
As originally reported by Auto Express, the Micra should be fully-revealed later this year, along with four subsequent all-new EVs from the brand. With its retro-inspired Renault 5 sibling set to cost €25,000 when it goes on sale later this year, we can expect the Micra to match or even undercut this price point. There is little competition within that specific price bracket so far, with models such as the Volkswagen ID.3 and BYD Dolphin hovering around the 30k mark, and EVs such as the Dacia Spring and Citroen e-c3 fitting in the lower sub-15k category.
Judging by the specifications of the Renault 5, we could see the Micra pack two battery options of 40kWh and 52kWh with power figures of 120hp and 150hp respectively, and a range of up to 250 miles. Weight should come in at under 1,500kg to keep battery range high, while total length should be under 4 meters, making it ideal for city driving. With Nissan bringing back its sporty NISMO tuning division for the EV era, many will be hoping for a performance-oriented Micra NISMO. That’s not entirely out of the question, with the Alpine A290 proving that an electric hot hatch is feasible on the AmpR platform.
Cheaper EVs such as the Micra are just what regions such as Europe need to bring EVs to the masses, after China, with its wide selection of low-price EVs, just passed 50% EV market share on new passenger car sales.
