In other markets, our Nissan March is known as the Nissan Micra, and news has broken of a performance version Micra complete with a supercharged engine. This is still in the planning phase for Asia, but would certainly expand the range for what has been a very successful release for Nissan in Thailand.
The supercharged engine in question is marketed in Europe as a low-emissions hero model, Nissan could add this model as a sporty flagship to the local range.
Fitted overseas to the 1.2 DIG-S model, the HR12DDR direct-injection three-cylinder Miller Cycle unit features a supercharger, idle-stop and the Nissan’s Continuous Variable Valve Timing Control System to deliver 72 kW of power and 143 Nm of torque.
The five-speed manual version returns 4.1 L/100 km and emits just 95 g/km on the Euro cycle, while the equally economical CVT version emits 115 g/km.
In the existing K13 range, the ST’s naturally aspirated version of the 1.2 liter three-cylinder engine has 56 kW, 100 Nm, 5.9 L/100 km and 138g/km with a five-speed manual, while the ST-L and Ti employ a 1.5 liter four cylinder engine with 75 kW, 136 Nm, and 6.5 L/100 km and 153 g/km.
At the Micra/March global launch, Nissan CEO Toshiyuki Shiga announced that the car would be sold in more than 160 countries, with Thailand, China, India and Mexico being the four main manufacturing and export hubs; however, some export models are now to be sourced from Indonesia.
Since the price structure is tightly controlled in this country to remain inside the eco-car tax reduction, it is probably unlikely that we will receive the supercharged version.
