New Nissan Micra at Geneva show

Nissan will unveil its all-new Micra at the Geneva motor show next month.

First from Nissan's V platform
The Micra will be the first car to use Nissan's new V platform, which has been designed specifically so that the company can produce high-volume, low-cost cars primarily for emerging markets.

However, Nissan will continue to make the Note, Cube and its new small crossover, the Juke, using its current B platform.

The next Micra will be made at the Indian city of Chennai as part of the new strategy. The outgoing model was built at the companys factory at Sunderland.

Three more cars 'at least' for the V platform
Nissan plans to develop 'at least three' cars using the new V platform, with production also taking place in Thailand and Mexico.

'The big advantages of our new platform are cost and weight. This makes it ideal for high volume production for emerging markets,' said a Nissan spokesman. 'The V platform allows us to do things that aren't possible with the B platform, and vice-versa.'

The new platform is also available to Nissan's Alliance partner, Renault, although the French company and its Dacia offshoot have no current plans to use it.