- Nissan's new supermini voted best in class by Ireland's motoring media
- Jury member labels it "an exceptional car"
- Expressive design features dynamic proportions and strong character lines
- Uplifting interior has two-tone soft-touch materials as standard
- Intelligent driving technologies mean confident drive for customers
Johannesburg, South Africa – The Nissan Micra has been voted Irish Small Car of the Year 2018 by a panel of Ireland's leading motoring journalists.
The All-new Micra will be launching in South Africa in early 2018. The vehicle will afford customers a comprehensive offering in the very popular B-hatchback segment. The car will be an addition to the existing Nissan Micra Active family.
This new model is lower, wider and longer than its predecessors and has more interior space. It has an expressive design, with dynamic proportions, an athletic exterior and strong character lines.
The Micra beat eight other highly competent small hatchbacks. The panel of 30 ICOTY judges awarded points on criteria ranging from innovation and safety to space, comfort, build quality, driving quality and value for money.
Commenting on the result, David Walshe, a member of the ICOTY committee, said: "In the crowded and ultra-competitive small car sector, it was always going to take an exceptional car to win the 2018 Irish Small Car of the Year award. The striking new Nissan Micra is that car".
James McCarthy, CEO, Nissan Ireland, added: "We are absolutely delighted to win this award. This result is due to a great team effort from all our Nissan colleagues – from the designers of the new Micra, everyone in sales and marketing, but especially our colleagues on the production line who produce outstanding quality products that deserve awards like this."
Currently the Micra has a choice of three engines – a 0.9-litre 90PS three-cylinder turbo petrol, 1.0-litre 71PS three-cylinder petrol and the 1.5-litre 90PS turbodiesel. All are linked to a five-speed manual transmission. Technologies such as Intelligent Ride Control and Intelligent Trace Control ensure a confident and comfortable drive for customers.
The Micra – now in its fifth generation – is available with a number of innovative safety technologies. Together they give the car a four-star Euro NCAP safety rating as standard, rising to the maximum five stars if the optional Safety+ Pack is fitted. It adds Intelligent Lane Intervention, Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Recognition, Traffic Sign Recognition and High Beam Assist to the Micra's specification.
Intelligent Lane Intervention is a lane departure warning and prevention system, and a first on any Nissan in Europe. When activated, the steering wheel gently vibrates and the brakes are individually applied to guide the car back into its lane. Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Recognition can help avoid impacts or reduce the severity of them by automatically applying the car's brakes.
The Micra is a car that's perfect for consumers seeking to express their own personality. It's available in 10 bold exterior colours, including vibrant Passion Red and Energy Orange. The personalisation program allows for contrasting shades to be added to the bumpers, doors, wheels and door mirrors, as well as elements of the interior. In total, more than 100 personalisation combinations are available to buy.
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