Nissan - Is it time to ditch the Micra?

The Sway concept as seen at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show

I was pondering this question yesterday as I was stuck behind a Micra on my way to pick up some last minute 'bits'. Whilst everyone else was rushing around, the Micra driver seemed to be oblivious to the surrounding Saturday afternoon chaos; instead following his own path whilst the nodding dog was busy keeping watch out the rear window.
Although I have a certain respect for the determination of the driver not to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, it got me thinking how his choice of car seemed to fit with the image of a chap popping to the shops to pick up his pension.
Before I cause an outcry, I know how stereotypical I'm sounding; however, I'm sure it's not just me that associates the Micra with a certain demographic. It's a car that for a long time has appealed to the 'silver surfer' amongst us. Driving schools are another group that have held favour with the Japanese supermini. It's a car perfectly suited to the kind of buyer who has absolutely no interest in anything automotive; rather appealing to those who want something reliable to get from 'A to B'.
This I suspect must be a problem for Nissan. After all, a positive, youthful and 'ahead of the curve' image is important to car companies. They want to engage with people, create conversation, 'light people's fires'... The Micra doesn't manage to do any of these things, at least apart from visitors to the one o'clock club.
A car is far more likely to sell to a broader audience when it's young at heart, it features an assured stance with modern refinements. 'Sexy' and 'masculine' will make more of an instant impression, even for female buyers. A design that's seen as 'feminine' doesn't tend to fair so well.
Nissan themselves have transformed their image over the past 10-15 years. Back then the core range consisted of the dour Almera, (a car Victor Meldrew owned), the Primera along with the Micra. European sales fell and Nissan woke up by scrapping the majority of these models and switching their attention to the rising market for crossovers.
The Qashqai and Juke brought in a fresh, more youthful approach while the company also focused on connectivity and technology. 'Halo' models such as the Z and GT-R appealed to performance car fans whilst the NISMO name is beginning to filter through to 'hot' versions of Nissan's core range.
Unfortunately the Micra is still there, often neglected to a corner of Nissan showrooms, somehow seeming rather out of place. The ageing, dumpy design of the current 4th generation Thai built 'world Micra' hasn't found a place in many people's hearts.
In 2015 though, a light appeared at the end of the tunnel with the unveiling of the Sway concept at Geneva; surely a glimpse of what the next generation of Nissan's supermini will look like when it's launched in 2016. I sincerely hope that Nissan sticks to the assured, sensual lines of the concept, a car that doesn't look a million miles away from becoming a production reality.
If they do, the question is, will they stick with Micra?
I'd say it's time to consign the name to the history books. If Nissan launch a fresh, exciting and youthful entry into Europe's most important supermini sector, it'll be a shame for it to be lumbered with a name that's synonymous with everything the new car is trying not to be. They need to look to the future as they did with the Qashqai, like Ford did with the Escort replacing Focus.
Time will tell...                

Coventry - Motor City

The Jaguar gallery at Coventry Transport Museum

I've been near Coventry for a few years now and the automotive history of the place is fascinating. There was a time when more motor manufacturers were based in and around Coventry than Detroit!
A great place to visit to appreciate how vast Coventry's motor manufacturing industry used to be is the Coventry Transport Museum. Just re-opened after a £9m development and refurbishment, the museum offers a great insight into the city's motoring past, present and future. What's more, it's free!
You start off learning about the dawn of the industry with the emergence of bicycle manufacturing from 'penny farthings' to the 'safety bicycle', the blueprint of which can be seen on today's bikes. You also learn about notable pioneers including William Hillman whose company was the largest bicycle manufacturer in the late 1800's.
British manufacturing led into motorcycles and the motor car. One hall is set out as a motor fair of the early 1900's with a selection of bicycles, motorbikes and cars from companies including Siddeley-Deasy, Rover and Triumph.

An early 20's Swift Tourer is part of an impressive collection of locally built motor cars

Following the Great War, industry picked up again with a few art-deco style cars on display as well as queen Mary's Daimler. Moving through the Second World War where motor manufacturing made way for the war effort, you see how many early post war cars were exported around the world to assist in the rebuilding of the economy. British car ownership didn't get going fully until the 50's when prosperity became greater and people could start to consider a family car for those trips out.
A number of Triumphs, Humbers and Singers were on display leading to the 70's and 80's when a lack of investment, industrial disputes and strike action led to the downfall of local manufacturing, much of which can be learnt from studying the turbulent times of British Leyland.
The Rootes Group, the car company that included brands such as Hillman, Singer and Humber was another empire that was crumbling with increasingly mediocre offerings. The exhibition includes cars that led to its demise including the Hillman Imp, Avenger and even an Iranian Paykan, produced from a CKD kit of the Hunter saloon.

A smart Humber Imperial forms part of the 'commercial and working vehicles' collection

There are also a number of Peugeots present, production of which took place at Ryton, just outside Coventry until the mid noughties. Cheaper production abroad led to the closure of the plant; a facility that produced cars for decades.
Locally built commercial vehicles feature as does a section that looks forward to emerging technologies of the future including lightweight materials and construction methods as well as tomorrow's mobility needs. Included is the aluminium chassis of Jaguar's F-Type and Range Rover Sport; Jaguar Land Rover being the great local success story of the moment.
The exhibition ends with a look at land speed record attempt vehicles including Thrust 2, Thrust SSC and a mock-up of Bloodhound SSC, the 1,000mph record attempt vehicle that's scheduled to run in the next year or so.
I'd set a few hours aside to go through the museum - well worth a visit.

A Hillman Hunter on display at Coventry Motofest

Another up and coming event in Coventry's motoring calendar is Motofest where a large collection of historic vehicles are scattered around the city. Many current manufacturers are represented too.
The centre point was a stretch of the city's ring-road which was closed to traffic throughout the weekend. Spectators could enjoy watching many cars race along the stretch including a Japanese drift team and a rare chance to see the Rover-BRM gas turbine racer of the 60's whoosh by.
With government plans to temporarily allow local authorities to remove speed limits for racing events, could Coventry one day be home to a full scale street racing event? It would certainly put Coventry on the automotive map once more and tie in greatly with the city's motoring history...

Drift team wowing the crowds on Coventry's ring-road at Motofest