New Nissan Micra Nismo hot hatch?

A high-performance Nissan Micra could be a possibility, borrowing from development work on the Alpine A290. Nissan could then have a rival for the hot R5. 

AutoExpress spoke recently to Nissan’s European head of product planning, Christophe Amblard. When asked about a Micra Nismo hot hatchback, he didn’t say no. He said that Nissan is “actively looking at all sorts of possibilities with its future product range, including widening the Nismo offerings. But nothing can so far be confirmed”. 

This would bring new spark to the Nismo name, which Nissan says is one of its “core” brands, alongside Patrol and Juke. It would also put to full use the new Micra’s platform, which can surely handle more power. 

Micra’s close alignment to the Renault 5 development means the work that Alpine has done to its A290 hot hatchback could be used to give the Micra more power and dynamics. 

The Alpine gets an uprated e-motor, pumping out 162kW in GTS form. It’s a front-wheel drive hot hatch. Output is 51kW more than the Micra can offer. Moreover, the 290 chassis has a wider track, bigger wheels, larger brakes and uprated suspension. 

No one will be holding their breath that Nissan goes ahead with this, given the company is in a rebuilding phase itself. But a homage to the original Nissan Micra Super Turbo isn’t out of the question. Now it’s a matter of watching and waiting.