The new Nissan Micra DIG-S is the latest edition of the small city car that’s powered by a petrol engine which beats most of the diesels in terms of CO2 emission. It produces 72kW (98PS) and 142Nm, while CO2 emissions are 95g/km.
That CO2 rating is of course for the version with the manual gearbox that also has an average fuel consumption of 68.9mpg. The Automatic CVT will do 115 g/km. The top speed of this Micra is 112 mph.
The engine is a 1.2 liter three-cylinder direct injection gasoline unit with a supercharger (DIG-S) and uses the Miller cycle and direct petrol injection to raise the compression ratio to 13 to 1 for greater combustion efficiency and a supercharger for instant throttle response and added power.
With this engine the Micra becomes a sub-100 g/km Co2 car which means it is exempted from congestion charge in London.
“Ultra low emissions with no compromise when it comes to drivability means the Micra DIG-S sets new standards for the current generation of city cars. No other petrol-powered compact hatchback can beat its overall efficiency… and it is more than a match for an equivalent diesel,” said Pierre Loing, Vice President Product Strategy and Planning, Nissan International SA.
“We have been able to achieve this ultra low CO2 figure in a cost effective package and without the complication of particulate filters needed to clean up diesel engine emissions and which are not entirely compatible with a car that spends much of its life in the city.”