- Tire development team includes ex-F1 driver Stefano Modena
- The Italian racer calls the new Micra, a "very agile car that gives the driver great confidence"
- Specially developed Bridgestone tires offer optimum combination of grip, handling and braking performance
- Nissan Micra a shortlisted finalist for European Car of the Year 2017
ROLLE, Switzerland –Stefano Modena competed in more than 80 Formula 1 Grand Prix races, and in 1989 he famously stood on the Monaco podium with legends Ayton Senna and Alain Prost. So what does a man who is comfortable at 300 km/h drive after he has finished racing? Perhaps surprisingly, the answer is the all-new Nissan Micra.
The new supermini's agile handling and secure driving feel is due in part to its Bridgestone tires, which have been developed with the help of the ex-F1 racer.
The Italian driver finally hung up his race overalls in 2000 and joined Bridgestone as a full-time product development driver three years later. He is part of the tire-testing team, which worked with Nissan to achieve the performance required from the new Micra.
Together they set about finding the optimum combination of grip, braking performance, weight, fuel economy and handling.
"Nissan has been very demanding of Bridgestone for this new Micra, which is a great thing because it means it had very clear goals for the dynamic performance of the car," said Stefano. "We really worked very hard to fulfill its requirements, and I believe we have."
He competed in F1 from 1987-92, driving for the highly respected Brabham, Tyrell and Jordan teams. As well as his third place at Monaco, the highlight of Stefano's career was a second place finish in the 1991 Canadian Grand Prix behind Nelson Piquet. A successful stint in various European touring car championships followed.
"I first drove the new Micra more than a year ago, and I was very surprised because it reminded me of a go-kart – very precise steering, very stable," said Stefano. "That was only a prototype; now it's even better. It's a very agile car that gives the driver great confidence."
Working in conjunction with the team from Nissan's Technical Center Europe (NTCE) in the UK and Spain – and the engineers from Bridgestone's Technical Centre Europe – thousands of kilometers of testing were done at Bridgestone's European Proving Ground near Aprilia, Italy.
The result is a compact hatchback that's positioned right at the core of the B-segment. The all-new Micra is agile and exciting to drive, with a trio of quiet and responsive engines providing the perfect balance of comfort and performance for the driver.
The efforts of Stefano, Bridgestone and the Nissan development teams have already been recognized, as the Nissan Micra is a shortlisted finalist for European Car of the Year 2017.
The Micra is available with 16-inch and 17-inch wheels, both of which are included in the car's extensive personalization program. This allows customers to select from a wide range of optional extras for the exterior and interior of the Micra.
"Having someone like Stefano Modena involved has been fantastic, helping us to deliver an exciting and confident drive on the new Micra," said Kazuyuki Yamaguchi, chief vehicle engineer for the new Nissan Micra. "His knowledge, experience and feedback have been invaluable in creating a car that sets new standards for B-segment hatchbacks."
Note for Editors
Tires from Michelin and Continental are also fitted to the new Nissan Micra in some markets on some trim levels. The performance targets for all tires are identical.
About Nissan in Europe
Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 17,000 staff across locally based design, research & development, manufacturing, logistics and sales & marketing operations. Last year Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced more than 635,000 vehicles including award-winning crossovers, commercial vehicles and the Nissan LEAF, the world's most popular electric vehicle. Pursuing a goal of zero emissions and zero fatalities on the road, Nissan recently announced its Intelligent Mobility vision. Designed to guide Nissan's product and technology pipeline, this 360-degree approach to the future of mobility will anchor critical company decisions around how cars are powered, how cars are driven, and how cars integrate into society. Nissan is positioned to become the most desirable Asian brand in Europe.
http://www.newsroom.nissan-europe.com
About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2015, the company sold more than 5.4 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of 12.2 trillion yen. Nissan engineers, manufactures and markets the world's best-selling all-electric vehicle in history, the Nissan LEAF. Nissan's global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan manages operations in six regions: ASEAN & Oceania; Africa, Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America and North America. Nissan has been partnered with French manufacturer Renault since 1999 and Mitsubishi Motors since 2016 under the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/. You can also follow @NissanMotor on Twitter.
# # #
Contact
Richard Yarrow
Manager – Product Communications (Content)
richard.yarrow@nissan.co.uk
Phone: +44 (0)7966 507759
Steve McLennan
General Manager - Product Communications
Steve.McLennan@nissan.co.uk