Nissan has filed a fresh trademark application for the “Magnite” nameplate, with a report out of India suggesting the badge will be applied to a new small SUV.
According to IndianAutosBlog.com, the Japanese firm has filed a trademark application for the Magnite badge, while also applying to trademark a logo for the upcoming model.
The publication speculates the Magnite badge – interestingly, a nameplate Nissan subsidiary Datsun has also applied to trademark – will be used on an upcoming B-SUV announced by the firm in a pair of teasers and expected to be revealed later in 2020.
Nissan promises the newcomer will be a “feature-rich premium offering” with a “stylish design for a strong and dynamic road presence”.
Expect the new model to measure less than four metres nose to tail, allowing it to qualify for a lower excise duty in India. It will thus slot into Nissan’s broader range below the likes of the Qashqai, Juke and Kicks, and compete with the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Kia’s upcoming Sonet and the Mahindra XUV300.
Of course, it’s not yet clear in which markets (outside of India) Nissan plans to launch the new small SUV but the fact it will be produced in right-hand-drive guise in India at least suggests the door is open for South Africa…
