Though hugely popular in Japan and Europe, the Nissan Micra hatchback is deemed too small to be appealing to American buyers. However, our neighbors to the north in Canada not only buy them, but race them as well. Now there’s a limited edition model inspired by the Micra’s racing series.
The Nissan Micra (or March, as it’s called in Japan) comes with a 1.6-liter 109-horsepower inline-four and a 5-speed manual in base trim. Ringing in at only $9,998 Canadian, or $7,070 USD, it slots in significantly below the most inexpensive new car in the US, currently the $11,990 Versa sedan, also by Nissan.
To get Canadian owners interested in motorsports, Nissan Canada even has a one-make racing series called the Micra Cup. The series features eight two-weekend races of 30 minutes each. Only Micras are allowed, and each is gutted, fitted instead with roll cages and racing seats and harnesses, and equipped equally with improved suspensions, brakes and exhausts. The engine stays the same, allowing drivers to engage in a battle of true skill.
Due to the success of last year’s inaugural series, and its expansion from Quebec to Ontario this year, Nissan is offering a limited number — 250, to be exact — of street-legal Micra Cup cars inspired by the racers. Each will come with 15-inch alloys, a numbered plaque signed by 2015 champ Olivier Bedard, an exterior graphic scheme inspired by the cup cars (which were in turn inspired by the BRE Datsun 510 and 240Z race cars of the 1970s). Pricing for the Micra Cup Limited Edition has yet to be announced, and unfortunately, both the race series and Micra sales will remain north of the border.
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