FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

5 August 1999

NISSAN ADDS A TOUCH OF LUXURY TO MICRA RANGE

In response to increasing demand for luxury superminis, Nissan is announcing details of two new luxury models in the top selling Micra range – the Micra SE and the Micra Mystique.

Nissan’s customer research shows that one in eight superminis sold in the UK are luxury models with generous levels of standard equipment, costing between £10,500 and £12,000. The new Micra SE is designed to meet this demand. Standard equipment on the generously equipped Micra SE includes anti-lock brakes (ABS), driver’s and passenger airbags, front fog lamps, 14-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, leather steering wheel and single CD player. Side airbags are also available as an option. 

The Micra SE is available with Nissan’s 16-valve 1.3-litre engine and a choice of manual or N-CVT transmissions. On sale from 2 August, the 1.3-litre Micra SE manual is available at £10,900 on-the-road and the N-CVT model at £11,890.

The limited edition Micra Mystique is based on the SE model with the addition of ChromaFlairâ paint, which changes colour depending on the viewing angle, the angle of light and the contour of the body panel. ChromaFlairâ was first seen on the limited edition Nissan Primera GT in March 1998. 

The colour shifting ability of the paint has been developed using leading edge technology. The paint is produced using ChromaFlair® pigments that are manufactured by using ultra-thin layers of colourless materials. 

Nissan adds a touch of luxury to Micra range…2

The pigment is in the form of tiny flakes just a few micrometres in size. Although the materials that make up the flake are colourless, ChromaFlair® pigments create colour through the physics of light interference. Different colours are produced by precisely controlling the thickness of the layers within the pigments’ structure. The ChromaFlair® pigment is mixed with standard automotive paint and applied using conventional processes.

Available only as a 1.3-litre five-door model with manual transmission, the Micra Mystique goes on sale on 13 September and costs £11,250 on-the-road.

Both the Micra SE and Micra Mystique come with one year’s free insurance or two years' if purchased on Preferences, Nissan’s personal contract purchase scheme.

Nissan has sold over 25,000 Micras so far this year and maintains a 7.8 per cent share of the B-segment. The Micra was recently rated 10th overall in the recent JD Power UK Car Quality Survey for number of faults reported per 100 vehicles.

Like all Nissans, the Micra SE and Micra Mystique are covered by Nissan's three-year or 60,000-mile mechanical warranty, three-year paint warranty and six-year perforation corrosion protection. Twelve months' roadside assistance – operated in conjunction with the RAC – is also included.

ends…

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Andrew Roberts        Product Affairs Manager                  01923 899930

e-mail:                         andrew.roberts@nissan.co.uk

Linda Robinson         Product Press Officer                       01923 899930

e-mail:                         linda.robinson@nissan.co.uk

25148/040899