Nissan Micra 'V' platform to underpin Proton supermini

Proton is gazing at Nissan’s all-new ‘V’ platform, which provides the base of the 2011 Micra supermini, as a way to gain a foothold in India’s competitive small car market.

Nissan may license its ‘V’ platform to Proton. Built for emerging markets, the ‘V’ platform can reduce the weight of a car and cut the number of parts needed by 18%.

It can also be modified to different markets and regulations, said Vincent Cobee, the head of Nissan’s ‘V’ platform.

The new supermini is expected to draw greatly on the Italdesign Giugiaro designed Emas concept. Its target markets offer excise duty allowance to cars under 4m in length, so wait for an alteration of the 3,550mm-long Emas’s rear packaging.