Renault and Nissan are planning to launch a budget sedan under the Datsun brand name in India by 2014. It is codenamed NKD2196. We have prepared a render of what the sedan will look like using all the information we have about the project. This car will be pitted against the best selling Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire, Toyota Etios, Tata Indigo and Mahindra Verito and of course the soon to be launched Honda Amaze.
The French and Japanese partners are planning for a mid-life comeback for their presently dead brand – Datsun. The parent companies are planning to launch it as a ‘budget brand’. They will co-develop low cost products for emerging markets like India and launch them as Datsun cars with very aggressive pricing in hope of knocking Maruti Suzuki of its throne of current largest car manufacturer in India.
From the render we can see that the car is pretty well proportioned and has an aggressive face. Unlike most of its potential competition, it’s not a design which is a product of aesthetic compromise or just a hatch with a boot. The macho bulged bonnet is low with a prominent hexagonal grill, depicting the shape of the Datsun logo. The wrap around head lamps look aggressive with fog lamps placed below it. The wheel arches bulge out to make it look more muscular. The rear lights too are wrap around. For India expect the car to get a generous helping of chrome on grill, boot lid and window sills.
The car seems pretty big and should have lot of space on the inside. The big windscreen and windows promise of an airy feel and also should aid better visibility for the driver. Not much info about the interior is available but we can expect not very high quality plastics and fabrics on the inside as a result of cost cutting.
Exact details of the Datsun sedan will surely be available as the development reaches completion, but we can make a few assumptions. Nissan-Renault should try to keep the dimensions under 4-metres to avail the tax benefits and they might use the legendary 1.5-litre diesel engine from their other products. The companies should also price it below other competitors, if they are to lure customers. We can only wait and watch how Datsun is branded in India and how successful this new strategy turns out.
