A few months ago we reported on the reintroduction of the Datsun brand. Parent company Nissan has now added the rejuvenated Datsun brand to its stable as an entry-level offering.
Growth in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) nations has led Nissan to create (relaunch) this third brand as an offering to the growing middle class in these countries.
“Datsun will bring competitive products and services, modern and aspirational, while at the same time reassuring, providing superior value and specifically developed for the emerging and ambitious new Middle Class in high-growth markets. The Datsun cars will be locally developed with the support of Nissan Motor Company engineers and stylists and will be locally produced”, said Vincent Cobee, Head of Datsun.
A few weeks ago I attended a number of workshops where motoring media from the target markets were given further insight to the relaunch of the brand. During our time at Nissan’s headquarters and global design centre in Yokohama Japan we were shown designs of the very first new-generation Datsun. These were embargoed until today and CAR is one of the first media outlets in the world to bring you these images.
A full scale model will be debuted at its world premiere will take place on 15 July in New Delhi, India and the new car will go on sale early next year. Expect the new, as yet unnamed model, to be roughly the size of a Toyota Etios. Power will most likely come from a small inline four cylinder motor that will drive the front wheels.
As India is the only other right hand drive market for Datsun we can expect the same model that will be produced on the Sub-Continent to go on sale locally at the end of 2014.
The company is also launching its international website www.datsun.com on July 1. Brand and product information will be available after 15 July.