Nissan's low-cost hatchback, the Datsun Go, was unveiled earlier this year. Now, the carmaker has started testing the brand's first model for our market near Chennai. The Go hatchback will be on sale by early next year.
The new Datsun Go marks the return of the Datsun brand after 32 years. The name of the new car is inspired by the first Datsun, the DAT-GO, launched almost a century ago in Japan.
Datsun is the third brand for the Nissan Motor Company globally along with the company’s Nissan and Infiniti brands. The Go will also lead Nissan’s big ambitions to capture 10 percent of the Indian passenger market by 2016-17.
The Datsun Go hatchback is spacious on the inside and even slightly longer than the Nissan Micra with which it shares its 2450mm wheelbase. Powering the Go is the same 1.2-litre petrol motor that does duty in the Micra, albeit in a different state of tune, and is mated to a five-speed transmission.
The new Datsun Go will compete with the likes of the Maruti Alto 800 and Hyundai Eon. Expect the Datsun Go hatchback to be priced below Rs 4 lakh when it is launched.
Datsun has also unveiled the Go+ MPV in Indonesia which is also expected to arrive on our shores soon.
Suraj Viswanathan
Dipan Sur
Lenny D'sa
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Rivan RS 
Ameya Dandekar
