Report - Datsun redi-Go to launch in May 2015

To be positioned below the Go.

Citing Business Week as the source, Kfz-Betrieb reports that the Datsun redi-Go which was unveiled at the Auto Expo earlier this year as a concept car, will be launched in May 2015.

The sub-Go small car has its dimensions comparable to the Chevrolet Beat but appears to have a higher ground clearance and crossover-like design elements. The project was first born as the Datsun I2 (codename) and is taking shape in India at RNTBCI (Renault Nissan Technology Business Centre India).

Based on an all-new low-cost platform, the hatchback is likely to be powered by a newly developed 800 cc three-cylinder petrol motor. The car is reported to have a light kerb weight of 760 kg.

To be built at Renault-Nissan Alliance's Oragadam plant near Chennai, the small car would be positioned in the sub-4 lakh segment, targeting the first time car owner.

The platform will also spawn a Renault hatch codenamed XBA which is also taking shape simultaneously. Further technical details of the Datsun/Renault duo are not available now.

Also read: Renault XBA to be powered by a 0.8L engine

With the Datsun Go not meeting the company's initial expectations, it would be a challenging task for Nissan to penetrate the compact city car segment which is dominated by Maruti. The recent publicity relating to the Go's crash test failure has raised a lot of questions about Datsun's attitude towards safety, and it would be interesting to see how the safety aspect of the redi-Go is marketed.

Competitors: Maruti Alto, Hyundai Eon, Tata Nano
Expected Price: INR 2.5-3.5 lakhs, ex-showroom
Launch Date: H2 2015

[Source: Kfz-Betrieb]