Nissan has finally confirmed that it will bring the Kicks compact SUV to India. The Nissan Kicks will be the company's first mainstream new product launch since that of the Terrano back in October 2013. The Nissan Kicks launch in India will take place in 2018.
Paymen Kargar, senior VP, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd, Chairman of Management Committee for Africa, Middle East and India, speaking to Autocar India said, “Our next product for the Indian market is the Kicks and it will come next year.” He added that Nissan has multiple products in the pipeline for India and that the lineup will be global.
Like the forthcoming Renault Captur, the Nissan Kicks will also be based on the M0 platform. This is the same platform that underpins the Nissan Terrano/Renault Duster so, achieving high levels of localisation will not be a challenge. Kargar added:
Having the future Kicks on a proven alliance platform is actually an advantage, not just at an investment level but also in terms of price and quality. When you have a platform used for multiple models, then the effort you make in ensuring quality is very high.
Unlike the Duster-Terrano pair, the Kicks and Captur will not share similar styling outside or inside. The Nissan Kicks' exterior incorporates the company's signature design elements including the V-motion grille, boomerang head and taillights, and the floating roof with a "wrap-around visor" look to the windscreen and side glass.
Also Read - Nissan to bring 8 new models to India
The Nissan Kicks went on sale in Brazilian and Mexican markets more than a year ago. However, that model is based on the Micra's V-Platform. Aside from sharing the platform, the Kicks is likely to share the engine lineup with the Duster/Captur as well. The Kicks diesel variant will be powered by the 1.5 L K9K diesel engine. Petrol variants will either get the Terrano's 1.6 L unit or the Duster's 1.5 L unit.
[source - Autocar India]
