5 new Nissan & Datsun cars & SUVs India-bound

Nissan and Datsun have had a quiet 2017, with no big-ticket launches. 2018 and 2019 will be different though. Here are 5 new Nissan and Datsun cars and SUVs that will make it onto Indian roads over the next couple of years. The upcoming 2018 Auto Expo will be a platform for showcasing most of these cars.

Nissan Kicks

 

The Kicks is a new compact SUV that is based on the Duster/Terrano’s B-Zero platform. It measures about 4.3 meters in length, and will sit above the Terrano in terms of price and positioning. It will take on the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Renault Captur and the Mahindra XUV500 in India. The Kicks will be launched here next year, with 1.5 liter petrol (104 Bhp-140 Nm) and 1.5 liter K9K turbo diesel (110 Bhp-240 Nm) engine options. 5 speed manual and CVT automatic gearboxes are likely to be offered on the petrol motor while the diesel will feature a 6 speed manual gearbox. A front wheel drive layout will be standard. An all wheel drive layout could be offered in future.

Datsun RediGO AMT

Datsun will launch a new variant on the RediGO hatchback. The new variant will feature a 5 speed automated manual transmission (AMT), paired to the 1 liter-3 cylinder petrol engine (67 Bhp-91 Nm). The RediGo AMT will be one of the most affordable AMT equipped cars in the country, with prices expected to start from well below Rs. 4 lakhs. It’ll sit below the Kwid AMT in terms of pricing but will be pricier than the Nano AMT. The RediGO is a tall-boy hatchback that’s also the least priced car in Datsun’s line up.

Datsun Go-Cross

Datsun’s next big thing for the Indian market will be a compact SUV, likely to be a sub-4 meter offering. The Go-Cross will be based on the common module family (CMF) platform, which also underpins budget cars such as the Renault Kwid and the Datsun RediGO. Both petrol and diesel engines are likely to be on offer. The Go-Cross is expected to be the least priced, sub-4 meter SUV in India, undercutting the Maruti Brezza, Tata Nexon and the Ford EcoSport. The Go-Cross could be shown at the 2018 Auto Expo, with a launch slated for 2019.

All-new Nissan Micra

Nissan will launch an all-new Micra hatchback. The car will have styling similar to the new Micra that’s sold internationally, but will be based on the CMF-A+ platform, which is specifically tailored to drive down costs for emerging markets such as India and Brazil. The new Micra is expected to be a petrol-only car, with manual and CVT automatic gearbox options. The car is likely to be launched here in 2019. Expect prices to be pegged at levels similar to the current model.

Nissan Note e-Power

Nissan has been testing the Note e-Power on Indian roads, giving rise to speculations that the series-hybrid car would eventually be launched here. The Note e-Power features an electric motor (109 PS-254 Nm) that runs on batteries charged by a 1.2 liter petrol engine (78 Bhp-102 Nm). This unique hybrid format will help the car cut down on tail pipe emissions in a big way while also eliminating the range-limitations of lithium ion batteries. A CVT automatic transmission is standard. The Note e-Power is touted to deliver 35 Kmpl. If launched here, the e-Power is expected to be the costliest Nissan hatchback sold here, with a starting price tag of about 8 lakh rupees.