This tradition could continue with one of Nissan's newest models, and it wouldn't be hard to bring it to reality.
Nissan Didn't Confirm It, But Didn't Deny It Either
This news comes from Auto Express, which interviewed Nissan Europe's product planning head, Christophe Amblarde. The outlet asked about the possibility of a Nismo version of Nissan's recently revealed Micra electric hatchback, and Amblarde wouldn't confirm anything, but said that the company is interested in offering more Nismo models and was looking at many possibilities to do so. That's very far from a "yes," but it's also not an outright "no," so there's certainly a chance, however slim it could be.
In favor of a Micra Nismo is the fact that a high-performance version basically exists already. The Micra is a thinly disguised version of the Renault 5 EV, which Auto Express also notes. Additionally, the Renault 5 has a version sold by Alpine called the A290. The A290 makes between 174 horsepower and 217, depending on trim, which is a significant increase over the 121 to 148 hp available in the Micra and Renault 5. It also features a wider track and upgraded suspension for improved handling. All of these upgrades would be perfect for a Micra Nismo, and they would require almost no real effort on Nissan's part. Nissan might still make some tweaks to suspension and powertrain tuning, and certainly the car would have different styling, but the bones are all there for the taking.
Whether Nissan And Renault Would Be Comfortable With This Is The Question
On a technical level, this car is basically ready to go. Where we could see a problem would be between the different brands involved. It's possible that Renault and Alpine might not want another version of the 5's flagship model on the market that could steal some customers. We could also see Nissan being less-than-enthused about putting its performance brand on a car that isn't really its own.
Chevy still has the best-selling Ultium model, though.
Then again, if the Micra is a success for Nissan, everyone could get on board. If it turns out that people love the Renault-based Micra, it would be in everyone's best interest to try and build on that with additional variants. It would be a bit like the Honda and Acura versions of GM's Ultium-based SUVs. The Prologue and ZDX have been outselling their GM counterparts. But those are still Ultium vehicles, so the more that are sold, the better it is for both Honda and GM.
We Hope Other Nismo Models Are Also Under Consideration
Auto Express was specifically asking about the Micra, but Amblarde's response was about wanting more Nismo models in a broader sense. That gives us hope that we could see other Nismo models, besides or instead of the Micra, in the future. The Juke would seem like a strong choice, though it's not offered in Japan or the US, so we wouldn't count on it coming here. The first-generation Juke even had Nismo versions. As we already discussed, the Leaf also had a Nismo variant, so a new-generation Leaf Nismo would be reasonable. Since the third-generation Leaf is headed this way, we would hope that a new Nismo version would be shared with us and Europe, rather than restricted to Japan like the last one. We'll certainly be watching for new Nismos with great anticipation.
