What's this then?
This is the Nissan Sway, a small car concept that previews the look and feel of the next-generation Micra. In fact, it might not be called Micra at all, so different is the Sway from any previous small Nissan. It's a much more wedge-y shape than any Micra since 1992 and is far more aggressive and sharp looking than the round-y current model. That current Micra has been something of a sales disaster for Nissan, hence the total rethink previewed by the Sway.
No word yet on what's under the skin, but there is a pared-back, minimalist interior inspired by last year's IDx concepts and the Sway ditches a conventional B-pillar and uses rear-hinged doors to really open the cabin right up. Don't go expecting those on a production version though - way too expensive.
"We believe that the Sway continues our tradition of challenging the status quo in market segments by bringing something fresh, distinctive and striking, much as we did with Qashqai and Juke. With this new concept car for Geneva, we are experimenting to see how Nissan might be able to bring fresh ideas to the compact hatchback segment," said Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President, Design and Chief Creative Officer, Nissan Motor Co, Ltd.
Paul Willcox, Chairman Nissan Europe, said: "Nissan is on the move. The brand stands for bold, innovative thinking in the European automotive market - indeed around the globe - and our growth in Europe is led by outstanding new products, which are defined by outstanding design. The Sway underlines how important design is for Nissan in building our brand and driving our growth."
Neil Briscoe - 3 Mar 2015