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...