First cute as a puppy, then curvy-baroque and finally - faceless. The Nissan Micra has undergone a major design change in the past three generations. The last step of the development was not very successful, at least in the eyes of German customers. Now the manufacturer swings back again.
The brand has just launched the small car study Sway at the Geneva Motor Show. Officially, the Japanese say nothing more than that they should present the future design style of the brand. Unofficially, however, it is clear that this is an outlook on the future Micra. And in contrast to the staid current model, this should appear much more courageous. The concept car at least stands out from the mainstream segment with its striking V-front, boomerang lights and floating roof. The muscularly modeled side surfaces also ensure a sporty whistle in the four-meter class.
All in all, the Sway is a complete alternative to the current Micra. The car, which was built in Thailand, India and China, among others, was developed for the world market - as inexpensively as possible and accordingly compromising. Although the five-door car got a more expressive front in 2013 with the facelift, it still looks like a car from yesterday among its European competitors. Even solid technology and a relatively extensive package of technology extras cannot change anything. The Micra was a small designer piece in the two previous generations. Above all, the exterior of the K11 (1992 to 2003), which is based on the design of a small dog, is still considered one of the most formally successful small cars. The successor K12 (until 2010) was able to impress female customers in particular with its rounded shapes and light retro design.
How much the upcoming Micra will look like the Sway is difficult to estimate. On the one hand, the Japanese had surprisingly implemented the Qazana study shown in Geneva in 2009 in the polarizing series model Juke. On the other hand, the Sway still has numerous features that are typical of concepts that are more distant from the series. For example the counter-hinged rear doors or the very reduced and light-looking interior. There is also no information on the drive of the exhibited vehicle. At least the basic direction should be clear: the new Micra should be more dynamic, high quality and European.
It also helps that the new generation is built again in Europe. For this, Nissan uses the factory of its alliance partner Renault in Flins, France. The first vehicles are scheduled to roll off the assembly line in 2016. Technically, the Micra and its sister model Renault Clio should then move closer together again. And the Frenchman in particular is proof of what modern small cars should look like. A look at the sales figures shows that: While the Micra attracted just 2014 customers in Germany in 11.000, the Clio had more than 24.000 contract signatures.
Author: Holger Holzer / SP-X
