NISSAN put the new MICRA's Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology to good use recently by powering a customised ‘MICRA-wave' that cooked up tasty treats for guests at the annual SMMT Test Day, a key industry event.

Of course, for an audience of hungry journalists, the Nissan team couldn't use just any old appliance, so they created a special Mount Fuji-themed ‘MICRA-wave' - echoing the Mount Fuji icons that appear in the centre console and boot - and cooked tasty ‘MICRA-chips' to share with guests while they waited to test-drive the 100 per cent electric MICRA around the UTAC Millbrook Proving Ground.

Any customer with a new MICRA can take advantage of its V2L capability: all that's needed is a simple adapter - available from any Nissan dealer - which plugs into the car's charging port and allows them to power or recharge all sorts of gadgets and equipment using a standard UK three-pin plug.

Power is drawn from the car's main battery, offering ample energy to charge a laptop, inflate a paddleboard, illuminate a campsite, boil a morning brew, or keep ice creams cool in a portable fridge.

Available now from Nissan dealers across the UK, the new MICRA is offered with two battery options: the line-up starts at £21,495 for a 40kWh Engage model capable of travelling up to 196 miles on a single charge while the longer-range 52kWh Advance model starts at £23,245 and can travel up to 257 miles on a charge.

When the battery needs a top-up, MICRA offers one of the best quick-charge solutions in its category. Thanks to its 100kW DC charger (or 80kW on the 40kWh version), a fast-charge from 15-80 per cent takes 30 minutes.

To maximise charging efficiency, a heat pump is standard on both battery options, as well as battery heating and cooling capability.

The new Nissan MICRA follows on from five previous generations and continues a proud legacy for the nameplate stretching back more than 40 years - and while the latest all-electric version may differ from its predecessors in many ways it's fair to say the latest iteration is a chip off the old block.