The Indian unit of Japan based leading car maker Nissan Motors has launched the diesel variant of its compact hatchback Micra in the Indian market. The new model has been shelved in the price bracket of Rs 5.59 lakh to Rs 6.05 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
Sporting a 1.5 liter diesel engine, the new Nissan Micra will be carrying two variants in India. The eight-valve four-cylinder engine of Micra outpours a peak power of 47kw at 4,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) and comes mated with a 5-speed manual transmission. The new Nissan Micra diesel is claimed to offer a segment leading fuel economy of over 23.08 km/l.
Earlier, in July this year, the company had rolled-out the Micra hatchback in petrol version that has met with an overwhelming response from the buyers in the country. So far, the company has sold over 6,000 units of petrol version of Micra in the Indian market.
Speaking on the occasion Nissan India’s MD and CEO Mr Kiminobu Tokuyama told to reporters that the success of the petrol powered Micra in the Indian market has given the company confidence to introduce the diesel variant within six months of its launch in response to popular demand.
The new Micra diesel will be shelved in the segment of B+ cars where it will be competing with the likes of Maruti Suzuki Swift, Fiat Punto, Volkswagen Polo and Ford Figo. The launch of new diesel version will further strengthen Micra’s position in the Indian market and enable it to compete more promptly with its rivals.
Nissan India Manufactured Micra with a 85% localized content, and only engine and gearbox are imported from its base plants in Japan and China. The company plans to export the petrol Micra to as many as 100 foreign markets by Oct 2011. The export to these countries will be commenced after meeting the demand for this car in the Indian market by ramping-up the annual production of Micra to 2,00,000 units. Importantly, there are no export plans for the Diesel Micra.
Tokuyama further confirmed the impending launch of a Nissan sedan, based on the Micra platform, as well as an MPV, with the likes of the Innova.
