Big Ballyhoo, Little Package

Sun Herald

Saturday May 27, 1995

Edited by PHIL SCOTT

IN 1993, Nissan's Micra overcame a form of automotive apartheid to win Europe's Car of The Year gong.

Not only was it small in the world's most competitive small car market, but it was Japanese ...

Every maker from Fiat to Ford devotes huge European resources to producing good little cars. Demand is big, the competition cut-throat.

Late next month, Australians get to drive the car even the notoriously jingoistic EC judges couldn't deny; the only Japanese model ever recognised with Europe's biggest award.

Before you rush off to the dealership, it's as well to note that some truly awful cars have been gonged by this same bunch of judges, a mob feted and fawned liked International Olympic Committee delegates.

The NSU Ro80, a beautiful piece of work with an engine that self-destructed, won in 1968.

So did the worst built car of the 1970s, the Rover 3500. And in 1990, the chronically unreliable Citroen XM swept the field on the back of the French voting bloc.

The Micra's win in 1993 was well deserved, although its British passport no doubt helped. When it won, the Poms were quick to claim it as a home-grown product with scant mention of its Japanese breeding. The identical car is made and sold in Japan as the March.

Nissan Australia, prone to a bit of hyperbole, reckons the Micra is the best small car in the world. All car companies say stuff like that.

What the Micra offers Australia is a small package with big room and a zesty 1.3-litre engine.

It has more personality than the Koreans and more brio in its wieldiness and response than Holden's (Spanish-made) Barina.

Three models will be sold, starting with a three-door LX at a shade over $17,000. A sportier model using the same body but with standard anti-lock brakes will be called the Super S. The only five door will be the range-topping SLX. Nissan won't reveal its prices but is hoping to woo Barina buyers.

Technically, the Micra's automatic transmission is interesting. It is one of the world's better Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVTs) with computer control and adjustable belts.

Instead of the engine buzzing up through the gears 1-2-3-4 as with a conventional stepped ratio gearbox, the CVT keeps the engine operating at its most efficient speed, in a relatively narrow band of revs, by automatically adjusting itself to speed and load. There aren't any upshifts or downshifts. The transmission does what its name says - it constantly varies.