We have received a tip off on the important specifications of the Nissan Sunny diesel. The diesel variant is unlikely to be launched in 2011 and we’re surprised to hear that the launch may not happen even during the Auto Expo. Nissan could introduce the vehicle in late January or February 2012 at a premium of 75-80k rupees over the petrol variants. The Sunny uses the Micra’s engine and transmission tuned differently.
The Sunny has driven up volumes for Nissan, it registered a growth of 149% in last month compared to November last year. The Sunny’s rear leg room, features, boot space, thoughtful marketing campaign and attractive starting price have intrigued customers. The diesel model with fuel economy close to 20kpl can build on this encouraging start.
Nissan has come out with an interesting variant of the Micra (locally called March) hatch in Brazil sporting a 1.6-liter engine that fires using petrol and ethanol. The March variant is equipped with a 16-valve flex-fuel engine that develops 111PS/151 Nm. Its top speed stands at a lofty 191 kph.
Nissan may not introduce a sporty version of the Micra for the Indian customer as the Renault Pulse looks very close to one. Nissan recently updated the car with a powerful horn, rear head rests and pure drive badges. Skyrocketing petrol prices thwarted the appeal of the fuel-sipping 1.2 petrol, and we’ll be surprised if the Japanese decision makers consider the more powerful 1.5 petrol from the Sunny.
After all those months prior to the name announcement ceremony that IAB speculated on Nissan toying with the Almera name for the Sunny in India in the belief that rights to Sunny name lay with Bajaj, Nissan decided to deploy the Almera brand for the Thai market.
Nissan India must have reached a settlement with Bajaj to secure the Sunny name as even late last year we heard from one Nissan official privy to the matter saying that the Sunny name was practically ruled out for the car codenamed L02B no one in Nissan liked being called Micra sedan.
Now that the case is settled we can move on to how different the Sunny in Thailand is. The Almera is strapped with a 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine putting out 79 horsepower (borrowed from the Micra). It’s available in either manual or the XTRONIC-CVT. Start-Stop system is standard which pushes fuel economy to 20kmpl in their country’s driving cycle and carbon dioxide emissions per kilometer stands at a tree-hugging 120 grams.
The rear spoiler is a nice cosmetic touch India will also appreciate. Note that the communication color is same in Thailand and India.
After a successful launch of the Nissan Sunny in India, Nissan is contemplating on exporting the midsize sedan to various countries. The company has already placed its orders for UK and Spain. Now, Nissan is looking forward to export the Sunny to West Asia and Africa from their Chennai plant.
Most of the exports would happen from their 2,00,000 capacity plant in Oragadam near Chennai. The idea is to develop that plant as a global supply chain management hub that will export cars to the many overseas countries.
There is definitely a strong case to export the Sunny sedan in many countries. So called as the ‘Global Sedan’, the Nissan Sunny can be easily customized to meet any requirement of any market. Being a successful product in USA and China – two major automotive markets – the Sunny will be well accepted in any market in the world.
Having said that, Nissan is also focusing on the domestic market.
Nissan has realized that the only chink in the armor is the lack of dealerships and service centers in India. The company is planning to expand its dealer networks to 60 members by next year from the current 45. By 2013, the carmaker plans to take it up to 100. This dealership network will come in real handy for the future products of Nissan India such as the NV200 MPV and a proposed small car in the future.
We expect Nissan to launch the diesel Sunny in the last quarter of 2011 and price it at around 75-80k over the petrol.
Nissan India has upgraded the Micra with new features and improvements. As these are not segment-breaking changes, the company has chosen not to advertise them.
The model seen here at a dealership has new rear seat supports with integrated head rests. PureDrive badges adorn the tailgate of the diesel models along with a louder horn. Both diesel variants (XV and XV Premium) have these features.
Nissan has revamped the rear seat after having seen the rear seat travel habits even on A and B segment cars. The more powerful horn is present as Nissan fully understands that Indian drivers love to communicate with each other.
The diesel model now accounts to 8/10 Micras sold in India. The PureDrive technology is Nissan’s BlueMotion, signifying sophisticated technology that saves the environment and the seams of your wallet. We expect to see Nissan promoting PureDrive on its advertising campaigns. It could be a regular feature on future Nissan vehicles as well as fuel economy is of paramount importance in any and every passenger segment.
While talk in town is fierce about an Auto Expo launch/unveiling for the Sunny diesel, IndianAutosBlog.com speculates that the Sunny diesel will enter the market in or before December 2011. Taped test mules have been running around Chennai for many months now and the launch is imminent.
After making a stunning and dominating entry into the B+ sedan market, the Nissan Sunny has got everyone’s attention with its long wheelbase, bright interiors and attractive price. The Petrol version of the Sunny is now a competitor to all cars in its segment and is looking as a good alternative to the Maruti SX4, Tata Indigo Manza and Ford Fiesta Classic.
And even before the commotion is laid to rest, we hear that the diesel isn’t as far as you may think. Nissan could begin production of the diesel at Oragadam by the end of October for a market launch in the following weeks. Even if its priced at around 75-80k rupees over the petrol, the resulting 6.6 lakhs starting price is a very impressive price and will keep the competition on its toes.
The diesel variant is expected to have even better fuel economy which is estimated to be about 20kmpl. The speculated specifications are that the diesel model will have the 1.5-liter CRDI engine max power and torque of 85 BHP and 200Nm respectively.
With prices of petrol rising almost every six months, current ratio of petrol to diesel cars in many segments is at a staggering 20:80. The diesel variant of the Sunny will put smiles on many potential buyers and will be a car to watch for in the current scenario.
With both the petrol and the diesel variant launched, Nissan will see sales in greater volumes from the Sunny. Competitors, your move?
We woke up to an unconventional advertisement on the newspaper only this time it wasn’t Volkswagen India’s wild and crazy marketing team at work.
Nissan’s first set of print and TV commercial for Sunny sedan gets our vote for its creativity and cleverness for there’s no better way to communicate its stretched wheelbase.
The launch of the Nissan Sunny is rolling as we collate information for this blog post from our Mumbai representative. The prices have been announced. All prices are ex-showroom Delhi.
Nissan Sunny XE – 5.78 lakh rupees
Nissan Sunny XL – 6.88 lakh rupees
Nissan Sunny XV – 7.68 lakh rupees
Nissan has sold no less that 16 million units of all Sunny generations around the world
Nissan wants to garner 8 percent of the global auto market by 2016
It hope that 51 new models (from Nissan and luxury brand Infinity) launched by 2016 will help it get there
About 90 new technologies will be seen on its cars by 2016
Indian market size will be multiplied by 4, China by 2, but Nissan predicts US growth at 40 percent by 2016
Five new models will be built in Chennai in the next few years
By the end of 2012, there will be 100 dealers around India
Nissan announces 24×7 roadside assistance in 1,500 cities and towns for the Sunny
Sunny is 90% localized
Nissan has set a target of selling 40,000 units before the end of this financial year
You can read our exhaustive coverage of the Sunny by visiting the Nissan Sunny category page which has presentation slides revealing technical information from the press briefing, brochure, video review and the drive report.
click through for brochure containing entire list of variants and features
