New sporty Nissan Micra hits the streets
Nissan are the latest manufacturer to recognise the potential value of the suped-up hot hatch market with the release of the new Nissan Micra 160 SR.
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Nissan sees the 160 SR as a rival to the new Vauxhall Corsa and the tricked up new Citroen C2.
At first glance the 160 SR looks like a regular Micra with gym membership. A deep, muscular front bumper houses the fog lights and dark tinted head lamps while side skirts cut down the road clearance by a few centimetres and the obligatory rear spoiler perches on the back.
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Add on a set of limited edition 16-inch alloy wheels in a graphite finish and the look of the SR (which somewhat unimaginatively stands for Street Racer) is complete.
The 1.6-litre engine delivers 110bhp, propelling the new Nissan Micra to 60mph in under 10 seconds, while the ESP stability control helps to make sure the feisty hatchback stays on the road.
Inside the car white dials, a short shift gear stick and aluminium pedals keep up the sporty theme for the cheap new Nissan Micra.
While the 160SR is the most innovative new Nissan Micra for a long while, it pales in comparison to the clinically insane Micra 350SR.
Designed as a concept car to celebrate Nissan's racing heritage the 350SR is an odd beast. Imagine the power of a Kenyan Rhino mixed with humming bird handling and stuffed into the skeleton of a small vole. The result is as monstrous as it sounds. The 3.5-litre V6 channels over 300bhp through a stripped out Micra shell.
Unfortunately the 350 SR has not been deemed safe enough to domesticate and will never add to Nissan Micra sales, meaning the 160 SR will have to do.
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