2011 Nissan March

Nissan has introduced the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) edition of the all-new March supermini, which went on sale this week.

Unlike its ancestors, the fourth-generation March is produced in Thailand, to lower manufacturing costs. Although, Nissan has set up a unique inspection process at its Oppama plant in Japan – that produced the previous generation model – to make additional quality checks on the Thai-made variant.

The Micra/March will be manufactured in India, China and Mexico, where manufacturing costs are low. Nissan has plans to sell the new supermini in more than 160 countries around the world including Australia, U.S, Turkey and Russia.

The Japanese March is presented with a 1.2 litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine, while plusher trim-levels receive a stop/start system that can achieve around 61mpg on the Japanese urban cycle. Features like leather steering wheel, 4WD, x4 electric windows, keyless entry, front fog lamps, satellite navigation system and electrically adjustable/heated/folding door mirrors will be standard.

Amid the assorted grades and trim levels offered in Japan is the Bolero model. Bolero sticks out thanks to its Bentley-esque front grille and revised front bumper. The March is priced between ¥999,600 - ¥1.64 million, with Nissan looking to sell approximately 48,000 units per annum in Japan.