Nissan dealers target conquest sales with new Micra

Nissan dealers expect to make conquest sales with the all-new Micra when it goes on sale in the UK next March.

The fifth generation car, revealed at this month’s Paris Motor Show, features a totally new look with sleeker lines, lower stance and wider footprint than before.

The car also boast higher levels of personalisation than before, new pedestrian recognition technology and in-car entertainment which will see the first ever option of Bose speakers incorporated into the driver’s headrest.

According to Jim Wright, the outgoing managing director of Nissan GB, the car will also appeal to younger buyers and will attract more male customers than before.

“We see the buyer profile as being 50/50 male/female and we see it bringing the average age down to 50, which is just below the average age of new car buyers in the UK.

“Visually it is very appealing and will have strong showroom appeal. Critically it will bring a lot of conquest people into the brand. We enjoy high levels of loyalty with the existing car and a little conquest but that will swing around with the new car. If we can continue that high level of loyalty and add conquests then we’ll see the volumes grow,” he said.

The Micra will be available with a choice of a 0.9-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine and a 1.5-litre diesel, both developing 90hp. A further 73bhp naturallly aspirated 1.0-litre petrol engine will be added after launch.

With a new-look Note also due next year Nissan dealers will be selling two brand new small cars and Wright expects the brand to replicate the conquest success of both the Qashqai and Juke when they were first launched.

Prices and specification will be announced closer to launch.