Auto Car | Bangkok show: First Thai-built micro hatch heralds Nissan Micra for Australia | NISSAN beat its rivals to the punch by launching Thailand’s first locally made eco-car – the all-new March hatchback – at the Bangkok International Motor Show last week.
Due to hit the Australian market as the fourth-generation Micra later this year, the Thai-built March hatchback benefits from local tax incentives for energy-efficient vehicles, qualifying with a fuel-sipping 1.2-litre, three-cylinder engine that made its global debut in the European version at the recent Geneva motor show.
Toyota, Honda, Suzuki, Tata and Mitsubishi also have committed to the eco-car program, which motor industry authorities estimate could boost Thai vehicle production by 600,000 units a year to two million by 2015.
The five-door March – offering a choice of five-door manual gearbox or CVT automatic transmission – is expected to undercut the price of a Toyota Yaris or Honda Jazz by almost half.
Apart from Australia and New Zealand, the Thai Nissan plant will export the March/Micra throughout Asia, including Japan. Up to 70,000 of the year-one output of 90,000 units will be exported.
The car is also slated for production in India, China and Mexico where it will be built in hatchback, sedan and mini-MPV variants for sale in 160 countries at the rate of a million a year.
The Nissan March/Micra’s new engine, designated HR12DE, produces 59kW and 108Nm, with claimed CO2 emissions of 120 grams per kilometre. Surprisingly, no fuel consumption figures were published at either Geneva or Bangkok.
Finally, Auto Express give the car a middle-of-the-road three-out-of-five star rating. This is far from impressive. Rix advises buyers to stick to the manual box as the CVT was unbearably noisy and acceleration was described as "woeful".
The March has been selling well in Thailand, with Nissan Thailand taking in 8,000 orders for the car in the first month. Apparently the uptake on CVT models has exceeded expectations and there is a waiting list of up to 6-months for customers wanting a noisy and woefully slow car.
Do remember that the March is the the first to market in this new category. I would be inclined to hold out for a few more options before committing cash to what seems to be a very ordinary car.
Source : www.goauto.com.au
Due to hit the Australian market as the fourth-generation Micra later this year, the Thai-built March hatchback benefits from local tax incentives for energy-efficient vehicles, qualifying with a fuel-sipping 1.2-litre, three-cylinder engine that made its global debut in the European version at the recent Geneva motor show.
Toyota, Honda, Suzuki, Tata and Mitsubishi also have committed to the eco-car program, which motor industry authorities estimate could boost Thai vehicle production by 600,000 units a year to two million by 2015.
The five-door March – offering a choice of five-door manual gearbox or CVT automatic transmission – is expected to undercut the price of a Toyota Yaris or Honda Jazz by almost half.
Apart from Australia and New Zealand, the Thai Nissan plant will export the March/Micra throughout Asia, including Japan. Up to 70,000 of the year-one output of 90,000 units will be exported.
The car is also slated for production in India, China and Mexico where it will be built in hatchback, sedan and mini-MPV variants for sale in 160 countries at the rate of a million a year.
The Nissan March/Micra’s new engine, designated HR12DE, produces 59kW and 108Nm, with claimed CO2 emissions of 120 grams per kilometre. Surprisingly, no fuel consumption figures were published at either Geneva or Bangkok.
Finally, Auto Express give the car a middle-of-the-road three-out-of-five star rating. This is far from impressive. Rix advises buyers to stick to the manual box as the CVT was unbearably noisy and acceleration was described as "woeful".
The March has been selling well in Thailand, with Nissan Thailand taking in 8,000 orders for the car in the first month. Apparently the uptake on CVT models has exceeded expectations and there is a waiting list of up to 6-months for customers wanting a noisy and woefully slow car.
Do remember that the March is the the first to market in this new category. I would be inclined to hold out for a few more options before committing cash to what seems to be a very ordinary car.
Source : www.goauto.com.au
Well done information about Bangkok and Australia. But in a recent news I came to know that Nissan launched its super Micra in India just before a week.
ReplyDeleteCan you please tell me what are the additional facilities this Nissan contains compared to the previous models?