Datsun, the budget brand of Nissan Motor Company, has revealed sketches of an all-new concept car that will translate into a future Maruti Alto and Hyundai Eon competitor. The concept car, which the company says, “represents a possible direction for the future expansion of Datsun’s model line-up” will make its world debut at the Auto Expo 2014, next month in Greater Noida.
As first revealed by Autocar India, the all-new Datsun compact car, known internally by its code - I2 - will be built on an entirely new platform, shared by sister company Renault. In fact, Renault has taken the lead in the development (known as Renault’s CMF-A platform) of this project and will be the first of the two brands to launch a car on this platform. However, by showcasing the I2 concept at the Delhi motor show, it appears that Nissan wants to steal the limelight from its sibling.
Apart from a common platform and powertrain, the Nissan and Renault versions of this new compact small car will have their own unique identity. The exterior and interiors will be completely different and, “this will not be another badge-engineering exercise,” said a Nissan official.
With the new Datsun concept, Nissan wants to showcase the company’s styling cues and build on the brand's identity, a glimpse of which we saw when the company first showcased its larger Go hatchback, a car that will also be on display at the Expo.