Nissan Micra to Get New 1.2l Engine

Japanese manufacturer Nissan announced today the development of the 1.2l HR12DDR engine, a unit which is said to be capable of achieving power outputs similar to the ones of a bigger, 1.5l engine, while keeping fuel consumption levels an CO2 emissions at very low levels.

The new Miller cycle unit will make its entrance on the Micra model in European markets in 2011. According to Nissan, the low figures have been achieved by the implementation of gasoline direct injection system (DIG), a highly efficient supercharger and, of course, an Idling Stop system.

When it will be launched, the Micra for the European markets will be equipped with a one-engine option, a new naturally aspirated HR12 1.2l 3-cylinder petrol engine (80 ps/108Nm of torque).

The supercharged 1.2l direct injection unit with a start-stop system (98 ps/142Nm of torque) will be available, as is the case with the first unit, with a 5-speed manual gearbox or Nissan's all-new Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

Safety wise, the new Micra comes fitted with crumple zones, ABS, dual front airbags, curtain and side airbags, Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and pretensioner seat belts as standard.

The car was launched in Japan under the March name this week. For Japan, the vehicle comes packing a newly developed 1.2l 3-cylinder HR12DE engine (on which the European unit is based on) with Idling Stop technology. Also for Japan, Nissan announced a new 3-cylinder engine and next-generation XTRONIC CVT which give the vehicle a fuel consumption rating of 3.8l/100 km (62 mpg).

Nissan plans to sell 4,000 units/month in Japan, with prices starting at 999,600 yen ($11,290) and going all the way to 1,644,300 yen ($18,570), including consumption tax.