The all new Nissan March is for people who love simplicity, designed as a reliable, stylish and accessible compact car, the Nissan March is engineered for great handling and agility performance, equipped with a newly developed powertrain 1.2 liter. 3-cylinder engine (HR12DE) with 5 M/T and all new CVT based on the newly developed V-platform.

Design
“Its face had to look stylish and have an air of sophistication to it” comments Mr. Makoto Yamane, Associate Product Chief Designer. A unique design feature of this car — its double-layer integrated grille — meets these requirements. But the car’s classic shape was also crucial. That’s why it also employs a stylized version of the distinctive arched side window line, something that is central to the March’s heritage, identity and appeal

Retaining its compact dimensions, the new car is slightly longer and marginally lower, while its longer wheelbase enables a ‘wheels-at-each-corner’ stance, the main reason behind the March’s roomier interior. The boomerang-shaped grooves on the roof have a clearly defined purpose too, continues Yamane. Aiming to create the same sense of exterior style inside the car, Nissan has employed a ‘connected cocoon’ design featuring a dashboard design which takes on a ‘twin bubble’ theme. This refers to the circular instrumentation binnacle and the similarly shaped glove box compartment on the passenger side.

All-new 1.2-litre Engine and XTRONIC CVT
The all new Nissan March is powered by an all-new HR12DE 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine. Inheriting its DNA from the HR16 4-cylinder engine powering the Tiida, Note, and Qashqai, the new engine employs continuously valve-timing control (CVTC). Power is rated at 59kW (79ps, while torque output is 108Nm. At only 120g/km, CO2 emissions for this version are world-class.

The Nissan March comes with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or Nissan’s all-new XTRONIC Continuously Variable Transmission (XTRONIC CVT). The wide gear coverage enables the 1.2-litre engine to achieve economy and brisk acceleration.

Nissan engineers developed ride and handling characteristics which combine agility, refinement and poise. Mounted onto Nissan’s new signature V-platform, the suspension has been designed to be both compact, minimizing intrusion at the rear for maximum trunk space, but not at the expense of the car’s on-road dynamics. Particular attention has been paid to bump absorption, meaning that the March will ride serenely over challenging road surfaces, not suffer from wallow or float, and cruise effortlessly at highway speeds.

Comfort, function and equipment
In contrast to its high speed capability, the car also has superb visibility and a class-topping turning radius of 4.5m and several new technologies that assist with minimizing C02 emissions and mileage while at the same time making parking easier.

The new March is available with some key technological innovations which are designed to simplify day-to-day life for its owners. It also offers special option of Intelligent Key + Immobilizer, a push button start-stop system, automatic foldable mirror, and reverse sensor (4 points) in addition to a intelligent multi-display meter which supplies drivers with real time fuel economy information, cruising range and outside temperature.

Safety
The incorporation of the V-platform is one major factor contributing to the car’s improved impact safety. The car is designed to absorb the forces of a frontal impact, thanks to the sophisticated crumple zones, while maintaining cabin integrity due to its highly reinforced body shell. We achieved European standard of safety under UNECE 94 and 95 (front and lateral impact). In Thailand, the March will be fitted with standard safety equipment such as SRS airbags, ABS, EBD, and BA

The introduction and sales of the Nissan March will come in 4 standard grades and 2 options grades and will be offered in 6 colors.

Colors

1.2S K23 Brilliant Silver
G42 Black Star
KAS Crystal Lilac

1.2E (MT/CVT)
1.2EL
1.2V
1.2VL K23 Brilliant Silver
G42 Black Star
KAS Crystal Lilac
JAD Spring green
A55 Sunlight orange
QX1 White pearl

Price list

NISSAN MARCH (K13) MSRP
Include A/C
with VAT
1.2 S MT 375,000
1.2 E MT 425,000
1.2 E CVT 459,000
1.2 EL CVT 489,000
1.2 V CVT 507,000
1.2 VL CVT 537,000

Nissan Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (NMT) today celebrated the start of production for the all-new Nissan March, a global compact vehicle. More than 200 guests and employees were at the kick-off event, which included representatives from the Thai government, including Trirong Suwanakiri, deputy prime minister.

Officially launching March 26 at the Bangkok International Motor Show 2010, the Nissan March will be the first model offered for sale under Thailand’s “eco-car” program, created to encourage the development of energy-efficient vehicles.

To receive eco-car designation, requirements for low fuel consumption and emissions must be met, as well as passenger safety standards for front and side impact under the stringent standards of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE regulation 94 and 95). The Thai eco-car program is an initiative of the Ministry of Industry’s Board of Investment, which was successful in establishing Thailand as a manufacturing hub for pickup trucks.

“With an increasing vehicle population in Thailand and valid concerns about higher pollution levels in cities across the country, we’re introducing a product that will have fewer CO2 emissions and less environmental impact,” said Toshiyuki Shiga, COO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. “Very importantly, too, producing and selling the eco-friendly Nissan March in Thailand, as well as exporting it to other countries in the Asian and Oceania markets, will create jobs and contribute to the country’s progressive auto industry development,” added Shiga, who attended the event.

The start of production for March positions NMT as a center for excellence in manufacturing, R&D and customer care. Thailand will join China, India and Mexico as one of Nissan’s global manufacturing hubs for Nissan March (known as the Micra in Europe and other countries), which ultimately will be offered in 160 world markets.

Nissan March is built on a new versatile platform, the V-platform, and is designed to have broad appeal to customers in both developed and emerging markets. The designers in Japan worked to create a vehicle that would convey agility and robustness in the design. On this, they delivered. As well, March is a reliable, stylish and eco-friendly car for people who enjoy everyday driving. The compact hatchback, with its affable appearance, also is engineered for easy handling and sprightly performance, while realizing class-leading fuel efficiency. The newly developed March powertrain features a 1.2-liter, 3-cylinder engine with an output of 79PS (108Nm) and 120g/km CO2 emissions (under UNECE regulation 101) The Nissan March comes with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or Nissan’s all-new XTRONIC Continuously Variable Transmission (XTRONIC CVT).

“The all-new March will simplify city life,” said Toru Hasegawa, NMT president. “March is a smart eco-car for people who enjoy their daily drives. New March drivers in Thailand will be pleased as well with the car’s modern and roomy interior and the many user-friendly technologies. It’s really the right car at the right time for this market.”

Dealers will accept customer bookings for Nissan March starting tomorrow, and vehicle delivery will start within a few weeks for the five-speed manual transmission version. Delivery of the March with CVT will begin in early June.

Priced from 375,000 baht to 537,000 baht, March will be sold through the NMT dealer network across Thailand.

As part of its mid-term business plan (named “Revolution 2012”) announced last October, NMT has targeted a more than 10 percent market share for Thailand. The company expects to achieve this mainly through the success of the eco-car project, launch of at least one new vehicle every year through 2012 and continuing quality improvements in the sales network. NMT FY2009 sales are expected to total 34,000 units, an increase of 22 percent versus FY2008. The company plans to sell 48,000 vehicles in FY2010, including 20,000 units of March.

NMT Key Facts

Establishment: November 1973

Location: Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok (main office)

Bangna-Trad Road, KM21, Srisajarakeayai, Bangsaothong, Samutprakarn (plant)

Annual production capacity: 200,000 units

Production models: Teana, Tiida (sedan/HB), Navara pickup, Frontier pickup, March

Dealer network: 94 dealers with 160 outlets

NMT-Group employees: 5,400 (including 3,000 temporary workers)

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today revealed the sketch of its global compact car. This model will be initially launched in Thailand in March 2010 and will be available in more than 150 countries.

At the same time, Nissan Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd. announced that the model will qualify as Thailand’s first “Eco-car.” Thai Eco-car government policy is effective today and will help promote the development of energy efficient vehicles.

India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India is looking to introduce a green car in the Indian market. Speaking to ET, Maruti Suzuki MD and CEO Shinzo Nakanishi said: “We stand a chance to have the eco-car in the Indian market.”

“It fits well into our product mix and we could utilise the Indo-Thai trade pact to bring in components at low taxes, thus making the car price-competitive for Indian customers,” he added. The huge potential for the fuel-efficient green model in the domestic market has prompted Maruti to bring the eco-car it’s parent company, Suzuki Motor (SMC), has developed for Thailand to India, he said.

SMC has been vying to produce a small car with a Euro IV engines of up to 1,300 cc under the Thai government’s special eco-car programme, delivering efficiency of 20 km per litre of fuel and under 120 grams of CO2 emissions per km. Such cars would attract huge excise benefits and concessional tax sops.

The company had earlier planned to set up capacity to manufacture 1.38 lakh eco cars (Cervo and other models) per year in Thailand, with $280 million investment.

The global slowdown put brakes on that plan. Under the Thai government’s plan, majority of these green cars were meant for exports and SMC had earlier planned to sell 10-15% of its total production in Thailand and export the rest to ASEAN and Australia.

Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

Thailand was chosen by Nissan Motor Thailand leads as First priority of producing New March/Micra (X02A) as Eco-car previllage ,use Dual Injection Technology for improved fuel efficiency.

The Board of Investment plans to reduce import duties on materials and parts for eco-cars, to reduce prices and encourage buyers.

“We’d like to see eco-cars priced Bt100,000 cheaper than petrol or diesel-driven models. That would encourage car buyers to choose to purchase energy-saving and environmentally friendly cars,” said Industry Minister Charnchai Chairungrueng, who chaired a meeting of the BOI subcommittee on eco-cars yesterday.

The move will probably be approved under Article 30 of the Investment Promotion Act, which allows the BOI to cut import duties up to 90 per cent, but these incentives must be approved on a yearly basis.

BoI secretary-general Atchaka Sibunruang Brimble said the incentive scheme had not yet been finalised but it can be either increase the reduction of import duty for eco-cars to the maximum 90 per cent or extend the period of tax incentives more than one year.

The plan is expected to be approved by the BoI’s board at its monthly meeting tomorrow.

So far, six auto-makers have won tax incentives from the BOI to produce eco-cars with total combined investment of Bt43.44 billion: Toyota Motor Thailand, Honda Automobile (Thailand), Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand), Tata Motor, Suzuki Motor and Siam Nissan Automobile.

Nissan is expected to be the first company to launch its eco-cars in the Thai market in the coming year, followed by Honda, whose car is still in the design stage. The other companies have postponed their plans, due to the sharp drop in sales caused by the economic slowdown.

Meanwhile, about 500 former employees of Body Fashion (Thailand), a unit of Triumph International, staged a protest yesterday and called on the BOI to find some way to help them.

“We have no authority to influence decisions affecting workers. However, we can act as a middleman between laid-off staff and the relevant state agencies in finding the best solution for all parties,” said BOI deputy secretary-general Chitaworn Worasak.

Body Fashion (Thailand) laid off 1,959 employees last month. The BOI was informed that Triumph’s subsidiaries in India, the Philippines, China, the UK, South Korea and Austria had to either close down or lay off employees following a plunge in sales stemming from the global economic crisis.

source : Nationnews

Honda plans to produce Smaller car below Honda Jazz/Fit as A-segment category to hit small car market.Unknown Small car is 2 CV Codename will be built at India and Thailand early 2012,Especially Thailand entry to ECO-CAR Project get 17% tax priced.

The 2CV  would be the first model from Honda that will be developed with India as a lead market. While Japan was the lead market for the Jazz, US was the lead market for the Accord and Civic and Thailand for City.

Tata Motors Ltd said on Wednesday its 5-billion-baht ($147 million) project to produce an “eco car” in Thailand by 2012 was still on track.

Ajit Venkataraman, chief executive of Tata’s Thai unit, dismissed local newspaper reports that the Indian car giant may be wavering on its Thai project.

Tata is one of six foreign carmakers applying for government incentives to manufacture mini passenger cars with at least an annual production capacity of 100,000 units, he told reporters. “We have made long-term commitments to Thailand and are a part of its automobile industry with plans to extend our product lines to include commercial vehicles and buses as well as eco-friendly, affordable small cars,” he said.

The Tata executive said its Thai eco-car would be an entirely different vehicle from the company’s Nano model, billed as the world’s cheapest car, that has attracted more than 203,000 bookings in India since April.

Nano production will start in early 2010 and full production will be achieved by late next year.

“Our eco-car project is going through its development process. We have several engine-size options, a decision to be dictated by market demand,” he said, referring to a government requirement for the car to be powered by up to 1,300-cc engines.

Other companies applying to invest in Thai eco-car projects are Toyota Motor , Mitsubishi Motors , Nissan Motor , Honda Motor and Suzuki Motor (7269.T).

Tata has sold nearly 600 one-tonne pick-up trucks since it entered the Thai market about a year ago. Venkataraman hoped to achieve, within five years, a 5 percent share of the Japanese- dominated segment in which 334,282 trucks were sold in 2008.

Tata and its local partner, Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Co, have invested in a 1.5-billion-baht joint venture to produce light trucks at Thonburi’s eastern Bangkok suburban plant.

Source:Reuters

Even Japan,China and some region of the globe to be success of Tiida sales But Mojority country was failed cause it is too small over the pricing to buy its,Then Next generation Tiida should be Bigger than current model at least widing body over than 1,695 mm. (Number 5 body tax in Japan).After discontinued Silvia S16 Nismoco will transfer HR16DET turbo engine to the Next Tiida.

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. today announced that it will display the Toyota FT-EV concept on opening Media Day at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), confirming its plan to launch an urban commuter battery-electric vehicle (BEV) by 2012. This announcement, coupled with its compressed natural gas powered Camry Hybrid concept display at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, signal Toyota’s intention to broaden the scope of its advanced alternative-fuel vehicle development.

“Now, more than ever, while we are so focused on the pressing issues of the moment, we cannot lose sight of our future,” said Irv Miller, TMS Group Vice President, Environmental and Public Affairs. “Nowhere is this more important than with our industry’s duty and commitment to provide true sustainable mobility with vehicles that significantly reduce fuel consumption, our carbon footprint and overall greenhouse gases.” The FT-EV concept shares its platform with the revolutionary-new iQ urban commuter vehicle. Already a huge hit in Japan, the iQ is lightweight and seats four passengers in comfort and security, while delivering exceptional mileage, sporty performance, unique refinements and a fun, youthful image.

Toyota’s FT-EV concept imagines an urban dweller, driving up to 50 miles between home, work and other forms of public transportation, such as high-speed rail. Although, for now, the FT-EV remains a pure concept, it represents a natural pairing of product strategies.

“Last summer’s four-dollar-a-gallon gasoline was no anomaly. It was a brief glimpse of our future,” said Miller. “We must address the inevitability of peak oil by developing vehicles powered by alternatives to liquid-oil fuel, as well as new concepts, like the iQ, that are lighter in weight and smaller in size. This kind of vehicle, electrified or not, is where our industry must focus its creativity.” Although BEVs and new smaller vehicles like the iQ will be a key component of Toyota’s sustainable mobility strategy, the conventional gas-electric hybrid, like the all new third-generation Prius, is considered Toyota’s long-term core powertrain technology.

Last year, Toyota announced that it planned to sell one million gas-electric hybrids per year sometime during the early 2010s. To accomplish this, Toyota will launch as many as 10 new hybrid models by the early 2010s, in various global markets. The new third-generation Toyota Prius and all new Lexus HS250h, both debuting in Detroit, are the first two examples of that effort. Also, last year, Toyota announced that it would roll-out a large number of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) to global lease-fleet customers in 2010. That schedule has been moved up.

Beginning in late 2009, Toyota will start global delivery of 500 Prius PHVs powered by lithium-ion batteries. Of these initial vehicles, 150 will be placed with U.S. lease-fleet customers. The first-generation lithium-ion batteries powering these PHVs will be built on an assembly line at Toyota’s PEVE (Panasonic EV Energy Company, LTD) battery plant, a joint-venture production facility in which Toyota owns 60 percent equity. During its development, the new Prius was designed and engineered to package either the lithium-ion battery pack with plug-in capability, or the nickel-metal hydride battery for the conventional gas-electric system. The 500 PHVs arriving globally in late 2009 will be used for market and engineering analysis. Lease–fleet customers will monitor the performance and durability of the first-generation lithium-ion battery, while offering real world feedback on how future customers might respond to the plug-in process. “Future customers will have high expectations for these emerging technologies. This Prius PHV fleet program is a key first step in confirming how and when we might bring large numbers of plug-in hybrids to global markets,” said Miller. “Our business is no longer about simply building and selling cars and trucks. It is about finding solutions to mobility challenges today and being prepared for more daunting challenges in our very near future.”