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Coming soon: Nissan’s new electric supermini
Micra replacement will be an all-electric supermini and an affordable option for buyers keen to make the switch
Words by: Dan Trent
Published on 27 January 2022 | 0 min read
Electric cars are all very well but with attention focused towards the premium end with mega horsepower and supercar-trouncing acceleration those with more real-world needs may be asking where all the affordable options are. Step up Nissan and its confirmation of a new all-electric supermini, designed to replace its popular Micra.
Details are scarce at the moment but the new model has been confirmed as a joint project between Nissan and its partner Renault, and will be built at the latter’s ElectriCity plant in France. Such collaborations are increasingly common as manufacturers look to spread the costs of electrifying their ranges, this long-standing partnership already having spawned successful electric hatchbacks like the ever-popular Nissan Leaf and best-selling Renault Zoe. Now including Mitsubishi, the Alliance 2030 programme will see all three manufacturers pooling resources in an effort to make their electric cars more affordable, all the while maintaining the respective identities of the individual brands involved. For its part Nissan is already busy electrifying its range in various ways, including the pending e-Power ‘range extender’ version of the new Qashqai and all-electric Ariya crossover built to compete with impressive rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and Toyota’s forthcoming BZ4x. The Leaf and the Zoe have already established a foothold at the more affordable end of the market but Nissan will be aware of the challenge of newcomers like the Chinese-built ORA CAT 01, a cute-looking electric supermini promising an impressive combination of performance and tech for around £25,000. Making a small electric car that is both affordable for buyers and profitable for manufacturers is the real challenge at this end of the market, Nissan hoping that the shared technology with its partners can make this new-age Micra replacement as popular as its predecessors. Watch this space for more.
Details are scarce at the moment but the new model has been confirmed as a joint project between Nissan and its partner Renault, and will be built at the latter’s ElectriCity plant in France. Such collaborations are increasingly common as manufacturers look to spread the costs of electrifying their ranges, this long-standing partnership already having spawned successful electric hatchbacks like the ever-popular Nissan Leaf and best-selling Renault Zoe. Now including Mitsubishi, the Alliance 2030 programme will see all three manufacturers pooling resources in an effort to make their electric cars more affordable, all the while maintaining the respective identities of the individual brands involved. For its part Nissan is already busy electrifying its range in various ways, including the pending e-Power ‘range extender’ version of the new Qashqai and all-electric Ariya crossover built to compete with impressive rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and Toyota’s forthcoming BZ4x. The Leaf and the Zoe have already established a foothold at the more affordable end of the market but Nissan will be aware of the challenge of newcomers like the Chinese-built ORA CAT 01, a cute-looking electric supermini promising an impressive combination of performance and tech for around £25,000. Making a small electric car that is both affordable for buyers and profitable for manufacturers is the real challenge at this end of the market, Nissan hoping that the shared technology with its partners can make this new-age Micra replacement as popular as its predecessors. Watch this space for more.
