First Not Thirst For Micra Diesel In The UK
Published: 29th April 2003
Ultimately there’ll be two diesel fuelled Micras. The 65PS version is on sale now with an inter-cooled version producing a healthy 82PS following in October – more details of this one will follow later.
The unit comes from the dCi catalogue of Nissan's alliance partner Renault, first seen in the Clio range. In Nissan trim it produces 65PS and 160 Nm of torque @ 2000 rpm that provides excellent low to mid range oomph characteristics, meaning an easier drive with fewer gear changes. Link this together with 61.4 mpg (combined figure), a 2E insurance group plus 18,000 mile service schedules and you can see the Micra dCi is an important ingredient in Nissan’s 2003 plan for diesel domination.
The Micra dCi is the fourth new diesel Nissan has launched in as many months. Overall, the diesel market has grown 6% in the last year alone with almost one in four cars sold in the UK being a diesel. And the small car diesel segment is expected to grow 8% over the next two years led, Nissan hopes, by the new Micra dCi.
The 65 PS diesel unit is available in the best selling S
and SE grades. The SE has the most up-to-date and innovative
specification of any small car, including an Intelligent Key,
hidden storage compartments, the smallest turning circle of
any small car, rain sensing wipers, air conditioning and a
friendly lighting system that keeps the headlamps on for up
to two minutes after you’ve walked away from the car.
It will also wish you happy birthday. Via the trip computer,
that is – singing is one of the few talents the Micra
doesn’t possess.
