With standard front & rear stabilizer bars (the only country to get both, apparently) and supposedly Canada-specific faster steering ratio, the Micra has a surprisingly good ride/handling balance. In that department it puts the competing Chevy Spark and especially the Mitsu Mirage to shame.
And because it uses the Versa's 109 hp 1.6L engine as a cost-saving measure (instead of the Micra-specific 1.2L triple from the other side of the Atlantic), it's also got the most power in its class.
So when someone proposed organizing an "affordable" one make racing series based on the car, Nissan apparently jumped at the chance.
They take a base $9998 Micra S (the one I've got), gut it, then fully kit it out with a roll cage, NISMO suspension bits, slicks on light alloys, intake & exhaust, racing seats, safety equipment, etc.
And you end up with a $19998 (CAD) race car.
The inaugural race in the Quebec-based series was 2 weekends ago at le Circuit Mont Tremblant. They've got 25 teams fielding cars. It turned out to be so popular they're already talking about expanding the series into Ontario. It's actually running this weekend as part of the F1 event in Montreal on le Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
So yup, I'm drivin' a race car.