Latest news with #supermini
Auto Express
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Car Deal of the Day: Cheap certainly means cheerful with the Citroen C3 – under £180 a month
Quirky styling and comfy interior Easy to drive; 52mpg Just £179.99 a month Citroen has long been known as a builder of comfortable cars that are well equipped and keenly priced. And nowhere is this more on show with the new C3 supermini. Available with petrol and electric power, it's not the most remarkable small car around. But it offers a lot to small-car buyers, while still being characterful. Through the Auto Express Find A Car service, Lease4Less is offering the tiny Citroen for an equally tiny £179.99 a month. It's a two-year deal and requires £2,759.88 to be put down as an initial payment. Advertisement - Article continues below Mileage is capped at 5,000 miles a year, but if you find that a little bit too limiting, then this can be nudged up to 8,000 a year for under £10 a month. This deal gets you a C3 in Plus spec, which gives you 17-inch diamond-cut bi-tone alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Plus, the free colour is baby blue with a retro white roof. Under the bonnet you'll find one of Citroen's familiar 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engines. With 99bhp, it means this isn't the quickest small car around but it's perfectly reasonable, with 0-62mph taking 10.6 seconds. Fuel economy is the name of the game here, because it returns a claimed 52mpg. Citroen doesn't call the new C3 a supermini and nor does it consider it a crossover. But there's no doubt that it has a mini-SUV style thanks to its chunky bumpers and raised ride height. The interior is a cool place to be – the dashboard has an interesting design and there are plenty of different materials used. Easily the highlights are the comfy seats, high-set dials and small steering wheel. The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find A Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car dealers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top Citroen C3 leasing offers from leading providers on our Citroen C3 hub page. Check out the Citroen C3 deal or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here…
Auto Express
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
New Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid 2025 review: spacious supermini is far from efficient
When it comes to the Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid, I'm not entirely 'Mr Lover Lover'. That's down to the way it drives: the ride lacks finesse and fuel consumption disappointed on the launch. Other aspects? The interior and exterior design are irresistible, the cabin and boot spacious for a supermini and the pricing is great value, making the rest an absolute smash hit. Advertisement - Article continues below Fiat has remixed its blocky, 1980s Panda city car into this bigger Grande Panda, which we're driving for the first time in 'Hybrid' petrol/electric form. It combines a 1.2-litre petrol engine and an electric motor, powered by a small battery. There's no need (or capability) to plug in, making it a hassle-free hybrid and a challenger for cars such as the Toyota Yaris Cross and the Kia Stonic. Be gentle with the throttle and the motor can sail the Grande Panda up to around 20mph, then the three-cylinder engine rumbles discreetly to life. So the 28bhp e-motor is good for emissions-free gentle runs, manoeuvring or motorway coasting, but its biggest asset is assisting the petrol engine to boost acceleration and reduce consumption. The 109bhp Grande Panda Hybrid is not a quick car (the 0-62mph run takes 10 seconds), but counterintuitively it never feels slow. The standard dual-clutch automatic helps, shifting smoothly and rapidly through the gears and blending petrol and electric power to send to the front wheels. It can be hesitant if traffic makes you come off the throttle then quickly jump back on again, but motorway kickdown is responsive enough and the three-cylinder revs out with a nice metallic warble. We drive the hybrid out of Turin atop its craggy roads, along the motorway and up into hilly wine-making country. With its simple twist beam rear suspension, ride comfort is the Grande Panda's weak spot. The tall, five-door hatch feels jiggly and unsettled around town, and a little stiff and rubbery at high speeds which transmits potholes and bumps into the cabin. Its sister car, the Citroen C3, certainly has a softer ride. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View 2008 View A3 Saloon View Kuga Otherwise the driver's touch points feel nice: the crisp brake pedal reassuringly wipes off speed, and the twangy steering is largely well judged. Goldilocks would approve of the weighting (not too heavy, not too light) and the gearing's equally appropriate, turning in responsively enough without any unwelcome dartiness. If you do chuck the Grande Panda into any bends, it grips pretty well and doesn't lean too much. But the Grande Panda isn't trying to win you over on dynamics, more goofy charm. Which sort of explains why Fiat has reanimated '90s rapper Shaggy for the advert, rewriting the 'Boombastic' lyrics into 'Pandastic'. Oh Carolina Fiat! Such playfulness peppers the delightful cabin, hidden behind that tough but cute exterior. The twin digital screens' oval yellow frame is inspired by the Lingotto factory's rooftop test track, complete with a cornering 2D Grande Panda. The letters FIAT are etched into the door, and contrasting materials – marble-effect plastic, flashes of yellow on the boxy protruding vents – bring oodles of character. There's no mistaking it for a dour Volkswagen. This is the flagship La Prima spec, costing £21,035 for the hybrid (or £24,305 for its electric equivalent). The visual centrepiece is the 'Bambox', which looks as if a beaver has built a log dam behind the dash, but is actually a cylinder covered in bamboo fibre textile. It's lovely and functional, containing a nicely engineered storage box. La Prima rolls on the biggest alloy wheels (17-inchers), adds front parking sensors and a rear-view camera to the lower Pop and Icon models' rearward monitoring, and is the spec choice for wireless charging, heated seats, navigation on the standard, unflashy touchscreen and automatic air-con. This can be operated by big chunky buttons, and there are switches to toggle lane assist, speed limit and hazard warnings and lock the doors. Otherwise controls are via the steering wheel or touchscreen. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The foamy seats – here wrapped in two-tone upholstery – envelop you like a friendly Italian bearhug. There's reasonable space for my 6-ft frame behind an identically sized driver, with feet sliding neatly beneath the perch and knees not quite touching the seat back. Headroom is plentiful as you'd expect given Grande Panda's tallboy silhouette, and underthigh support is good – that's because without the EV batteries in the floor, the footwells are deeper. The boot has a tall lip to stow items over, but the 412-litre storage area will sneak 3 or 4 airline carry ons upright beneath the parcel shelf. The rear seats are split 60:40 even on the base £18,035 Pop version, which comes with the digital screens, cruise control, six airbags, lane assist and emergency braking. We covered just over 90 miles in the new Grande Panda hybrid, mostly in torrential rain and grinding traffic. Thankfully the Fiat isn't too boombastic on the motorway, although the tyres grumble different basslines depending on the tarmac's smoothness and a little wind noise whistles along the side. Our 46mpg was 9mpg off the official WLTP consumption figure: down to the hybrid or my heavy right foot? In the words of Shaggy: 'it wasn't me'. Model: Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid La Prima Price: £21,035 Powertrain: 1.2-litre 3-cyl in-line turbo 48v hybrid Power/torque: 109bhp (including 28bhp e-motor)/205Nm Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch automatic, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 10.0 seconds Top speed: 99mph Economy/CO2: 55.4mpg/119g/km Size (L/W/H): 3,999/1,763/1,586mm On sale: September (UK) Share this on Twitter Share this on Facebook Email It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA Mike Rutherford thinks Jaguar's 'Reimagine' strategy will result in the company exploring further opportunities in the USA Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales Is pressure from retailers and car makers finally cutting through with ministers? Car Deal of the Day: Ford Explorer gives you practicality, style and EV power for £228 a month Car Deal of the Day: Ford Explorer gives you practicality, style and EV power for £228 a month Family-friendly SUV is arguably Ford's best electric car, and great value, too. It's our Deal of the Day for 24 May
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Official reveal: Nissan Micra reinvented as Renault 5 twin
The radically different new sixth-generation Nissan Micra has been created to appeal to younger, European buyers, in a bid to move the supermini away from being known as a 'grandma car'. The newest generation of the popular hatchback – which has amassed more than six million sales since first being launched 42 years ago – has been fully revealed by the Japanese firm as a twin to Alliance partner Renault's electric 5. This means it won't be sold with a combustion engine for the first time in its history. The Micra is aimed squarely at buyers in Europe, a market in which Nissan is looking to grow after suffering heavy losses in recent years, necessitating a major cost-cutting plan. It arrives as one of four new Nissan EVs due before the end of 2026, the others being the new Leaf crossover, an electric Juke and an A-segment model that will be twinned with the upcoming Renault Twingo. The new Micra sits on the Ampr Small platform, drawing power from either a 40kWh or a 52kWh battery, which are good for 192 and 253 miles of range. In top-spec form, the battery can accept a charging rate of 100kW to go from 15-80% in 30 minutes. As with the 5, alongside which the Micra will be produced by Renault in Douai, France, power is sent to a single, front-mounted motor that can be tuned for 121bhp (with the 40kWh battery) or 148bhp (with the 52kWh battery). Beyond the electric powertrain, the biggest change for the Micra is its radical new design. While it was developed alongside the 5 from the start, Nissan designers were given the freedom to create something that 'was more noticeably Nissan' – although 'we had to fight for it', exterior design manager Yongwook Cho told Autocar. Described as 'audacious, assertive and funky', the new look takes inspiration from the bulbous Mk3 Micra of 2002, especially for its circular daytime-running lights at both ends. Cho added that 'it was tough' when his designers were tasked with creating something that would differ visually from the 'already good-looking' 5, especially given the fixed underpinnings. One change from the 5 is at the front, where the bonnet is higher, longer and features slightly more bulky arches in order to give the Micra a different silhouette. 'We wanted to carry more volume to the front,' said Cho, who added that this gives the Micra more of a crossover feel – like the Renault Megane – than the 5, which is more overtly a hatchback and 'sporty'. Another differentiator is at the rear, where a lip was added, and at the side (visually where the twins are most obviously related), where there's a shoulder line that looks 'like it's been scooped by a gelato scoop'. These design elements combine to make the Micra 'a grandma car no more', claimed Cho. The interior is essentially identical to the 5's, with the same twin 10.25in screens, same switchgear and same materials, but its colour offerings – white, grey and black – are more muted. That is intended to position Nissan's entry-level EV as more of a premium offering than the 5, European marketing boss Arnaud Charpentier told Autocar. Pricing, he suggested, would therefore start above Renault's £22,995 entry point. Explaining why Nissan had given the Micra such a radical styling overhaul, Charpentier said: 'The UK is our best market in Europe by far [with 133,000 sales since the start of 2024], so we had to come back with something different. 'I think this new car will create a gap between what people have in mind when they look or think of the [Micra] nameplate and what is now the reality. 'Young buyers? That was the objective.' Charpentier said traditional Micra buyers in the UK differ from those in other markets. For example, in France and Spain they are younger and 'almost 95% female'. As such, he explained, 'we wanted to come back with something which is gender-neutral'. Charpentier continued: 'The challenge is really to rejuvenate, because we know that in the UK we have this [grandma] association, and we believe through the audacious and playful design that we see, it's going to help conquer new types of buyers, like younger, modern parents.' Asked whether sales could be affected by the Micra's switch to electric-only power, he said: 'We will have to explain that it's an EV, a full EV. It had to be explained by Renault with the 5. So that's the fact.' Touching on the 5's popularity (16,948 sales in Europe so far this year) and lower starting price, Charpentier disagreed that total electrification would inhibit uptake of the Micra. 'We have a very strong nameplate,' he said. 'I'm sure that the nameplate of Micra is stronger in the UK, for example, than the 5. Probably also in Italy. So I'm not worried about this.' What's more, Charpentier believes that the arrivals of the reinvented Leaf and the next-generation Juke will help rejuvenate Nissan during a turbulent period for the company. 'This new EV line-up will help us to come back in the race,' he predicted. ]]>
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Times
Micra Goes Electric: Nissan's funky supermini gets a high-tech makeover
Nissan has unveiled its new Micra, the Japanese brand's aesthetic take on last year's Renault 5. Now in its sixth generation, the firm's supermini is fully electric for the first time, coming with two battery options and some funky styling touches. Designed at Nissan's London studio, senior designer Matt Weaver defended the decision not to follow the same retro remake approach as partner Renault. While keeping some of the 'cute' styling cues of past Micras — such as the big-eyed front lights — it hasn't really borrowed much from the more distinctive Pike car range, which is a shame. New Nissan Micra It does, however, incorporate more SUV-inspired styling than its Renault sibling, including 18-inch wheels across all versions and more pronounced wheel arches. Weaver was quick to point out, though, that the aesthetic differences from the Renault 5 won't affect aerodynamic efficiency or energy consumption. The Micra remains relatively lightweight for an EV in its class, tipping the scales between 1,400kg and 1,524kg. READ MORE New Nissan Micra Unfortunately, sticking with the Renault 5's dimensions also means Nissan hasn't addressed one of that car's main criticisms — limited rear seat legroom. As with the Renault, two battery options are available for the Micra: a 40kWh pack delivering an expected range of 310km, and a 52kWh option offering up to 408km. Both support DC fast charging at up to 100kW, and come with a standard heat pump and thermal battery management system. New Nissan Micra The new Micra is also capable of V2L (vehicle-to-load) functionality, allowing users to power external devices — from fridges to camper heaters — directly from the battery pack. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities are planned for the future. Three driving modes are offered, plus the option to create a personalised 'Perso' profile that adjusts power delivery, steering, throttle response, and even ambient lighting. New Nissan Micra Inside, the dashboard features dual 10.1-inch screens with built-in Google Maps and Google Assistant. The system also supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for broader connectivity. Dublin-born Clíodhna Lyons, Nissan's Regional Vice President of Product Planning, told The Irish Times that manufacturers face significant challenges in producing small cars — balancing increasingly stringent European regulations with customer demands for cutting-edge technology, all while keeping prices competitive in a price-sensitive market. On the upside, Lyons added that these regulations represent a level playing field, so success comes down to carefully choosing the features that matter most to buyers, while keeping a close eye on cost. She clearly believes Nissan has the formula right with this new Micra — though its success will ultimately depend on pricing, which has yet to be announced. The Micra is one of four all-electric models Nissan plans to launch over the next two years. It will join the new LEAF, Juke, and a smaller city EV based on the upcoming Renault Twingo and Dacia Spring. The new Micra is set to arrive in Irish showrooms by the end of this year.
Top Gear
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Welcome to your next learner car: this is the new, electrified Nissan Micra
Welcome to your next learner car: this is the new, electrified Nissan Micra Renault 5-based supermini returns for a sixth time with up to 253 miles of range Skip 22 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 22 Take a good, long look at the new Nissan Micra's pristinely moulded flanks and immaculate wheels while you can. Everyone's favourite learner car has returned as an electrified supermini, ready to be silently dinged into oblivion by an entirely new generation of drivers. We jest, of course. This, the sixth generation of the Japanese carmaker's venerable B-segment hero, utilises the new 'AmpR Small' platform that underpins the award-winning Renault 5. Though here it's treated to a distinctly Nissan silhouette. Advertisement - Page continues below A silhouette designed in London and carrying a few elements of Micras gone by. Like the so-called 'iconic' headlights you'll remember from the third-gen 'K12'. Unlike that Noughties car, the new one certainly looks less surprised by everything around it. The arches have been phattened to give it more SUV-like presence, while 'a distinctive lower lip suggests a lower centre of gravity'. There's also what Nissan calls an 'ice-cream scoop': an indent that runs from the front door in a line to the rear door. It is apparently 'reminiscent of the shape a scoop would make if dragged across the surface of untouched ice cream'. You won't get any ice cream colours, sadly, though Nissan said there are 14 available, as well as two-tone options. Wheels are huge too: 18in, available in three designs depending on your spec. Speaking of which, there'll be two battery options available from launch: a 40kWh version offering 121bhp (90kW), 166lb ft, and a claimed range of up to 195 miles. This entry-level e-Micra weighs in at 1,400kg. Advertisement - Page continues below The second one deploys a bigger 52kWh battery for bigger numbers all round: 148bhp, 181lb ft, up to 253 miles of range and a kerbweight of 1,524kg. Both cars get heat pumps, V2L tech, plus battery heating and cooling as standard. And while the little battery can charge at up to 80kW, the big one can use a 100kW hose that'll top up from 15 to 80 per cent in half an hour. And when you want to use up those electrons, Nissan promises 'brilliant driving dynamics, and a best-in-class ride and handling'. Well, as 'best' as the Renault 5. It gets the same setup as its French cousin – independent front, multi-link rear, passive dampers – along with regenerative braking and three drive modes that run from comfort, sport and eco. If this is a wholesale carryover from the R5, it'll be great to drive. Great to sit in, too. There's the obligatory massive high-res touchscreen plonked in the middle – a 10.1in configurable unit – while the driver gets their own 10.1in display. And because this is a Japanese supermini, there's a moulded outline of Mount Fuji in the storage area between the front seats. Those seats btw, are available in various materials depending on spec, while the ambient lighting stretches to 48 different colour options. Storage mirrors the R5: a 326-litre boot, extendable to 1,106-litres if you fold the rear seats down. Google's been hardwired into the bones of the new Micra, which means everything from the sat nav to your music, phone, and even vehicle functionality is run by the American tech giant. Enlist the services of the Google Assistant, and you'll be able to ask it to change the temperature, adjust the air-con, heat the seats or navigate to a particular destination. Like your local learner centre. Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email* Speaking of which, there's a tonne of safety kit bundled in, like adaptive cruise, emergency braking and so on, as well as all the other stuff you'll probably not turn off in this car. Not if you're attempting to reverse around a corner. 'We are proud to oversee the return of the Micra name to Nissan's range in Europe,' said Nissan's AMIEO regional VP Arnaud Charpentier. 'It's a name with over 40 years of history. It will electrify the streets wherever it goes.' Nissan's hoping that history will pay off: the new Micra arrives at a time when the beleaguered Japanese carmaker is fighting for its very life. Only last week, it announced further job losses, shutting seven factories and pausing all post-2026 new car development. This Micra then, along with the incoming new Leaf, Juke and a new city car, will shoulder a very heavy burden. Expect it to be parallel parking on a street near you later this year when European sales kick off.
