2016 Nissan Micra - latest spy shots show radical new design

Latest spy shots show the Nissan Micra testing on public roads ahead of its anticipated debut later this year.

2017 Nissan Micra unveiled at Paris motor show 

Its styling is radically different from the current Micra, and despite the heavy camouflage, it’s clear to see that it has been heavily influenced by the Sway concept of the 2015 Geneva motor show, as well as the Pulsar hatchback.

2017 Nissan Micra prototype driven 

Previous spy shots showed the Micra in bizarre, extra-thorough cladding which almost entirely shrouded the styling of the car, but left the main shapes and some details visible. Cladding on this new test mule is no less thorough but reveals more design details, like the shape of the head and taillights, as well as V-shaped grille details. 

The more aggressive styling is complemented by a sloping roofline and rear spoiler, as well as an angular rear-end treatment and dramatic design lines down the sides of the car, with the rear handles integrated into the upper section of the rear doors.

The next Micra will be a renewed effort for Nissan’s supermini as it will go on the market around the same time as the next Ford Fiesta. As Nissan returned to the hatchback segment with the Pulsar, it also hopes the new Micra will gain a higher level of acclaim and success than the current-generation model.

Under the Renault-Nissan alliance, 82,000 Micra units are also slated for production at Renault’s factory in Flins, France, which currently builds the Renault Clio and Renault Zoe.

Chief planning officer at Nissan, Phillippe Klein, confirmed Nissan’s ambition to excel in the UK's highly competitive supermini market, saying: “My feeling is that a world car that isn’t suited to local conditions is a problem. We will make sure we are competitive where we want to compete.”