Nissan Micra makes global debut at Paris Motor Show (Photos & Video)

The new model arrives in United Kingdom showrooms next March, and aims to improve upon the reputation of the current Micra, which has fallen behind the class leaders in key areas such as ride, handling, refinement and interior quality.

The new Micra will be available with a host of advanced safety kit. On the outside, the 2017 Nissan Micra gets sharp visual characteristics. India launch of the hatchback is expected in the second quarter of 2017.

In terms of looks, Nissan has kept it close to the Sway Concept which was unveiled in Geneva past year, with the manufacturer's signature V-shaped grille and sharp character lines. Declining sales of the current generation model around the globe must have forced the automaker to transform the Micra from the ground-up.

The prices of the 2017 Nissan Micra are yet to be confirmed by the automaker.

"Both, hopefully. But we've definitely done a lot of tyre development - there have been many iterations - and we're especially pleased with the car's refinement". There are some nice touches like the blacked out C-pillar that mimics the effect of a floating roof.

All in all, when placed alongside its softer-looking predecessor, the new March is certainly a visual revolution, and if you remove the badges, some might be tricked into thinking they aren't from the same family nameplate.

The new Micra is most likely to share its dashboard with the recently revealed Kicks compact SUV. It debuts a completely new body style, first seen on the Sway concept at the 2015 Geneva show. A new electric power steering system with a brushless motor is on board too and so are features like the Active Ride Control and Active Trace Control (ESC), which until now were only available on Nissan cars sitting higher up the order.

If reports are to be believed, the Micra will finally adopt the Renault-Nissan alliance's lightweight modular CMF (common module family) platform.

Meanwhile, according to our sister site Auto Express, a warm 120bhp 0.9-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol is nearly certain to emerge at some point in a quicker version of the Micra. The 1.5-liter four-cylinder diesel will be offered alongside a 0.9-liter three-cylinder turbocharged gasoline and a 1.0-liter naturally aspirated gasoline unit. Based on the Sway concept that was showcased a year ago, the auto will first go on sale in the European markets, while the company has not revealed any plans about its India launch.

The new Micra is lower, wider and longer than the vehicle it replaces, Nissan said without giving figures.