Nissan has unveiled the second Datsun vehicle, the GO+ MPV. The Datsun GO+ is based on the hatchback version and is developed for the Indonesian market. However the automaker will definitely bring this vehicle to the Indian market in the near future as the MPV segment is booming. Datsun will put both vehicles, the GO and GO+ on sale in Indonesia next year. Both these emerging market oriented cars will be priced under 100 Million Indonesian rupiah (Rs. 5.52 lakhs). The automaker will manufacture the GO twins at Nissan’s Purwakarta plant in Indonesia.
The Datsun GO+ MPV is a 5+2 vehicle which has a length of 3995 mm, making it a compact MPV for the Indian market. The width is 1635 mm and the height is 1485 mm, which makes the GO+ really compact in dimensions. The wheelbase is 2450 mm which gives the GO+ plus sized interior room. The vehicle is targeted at family buyers who want the versatility of seating 7 people. The last row of seats can be folded to boost boot space. The standout feature is the Datsun Mobile Docking Station, which enables smart phone integration into the car.
While the GO hatchback looks good, the GO+ MPV looks quite ugly and the proportions are very ungainly. Customers can ignore the out of proportion styling of the MPV if the pricing is done aggressively in the Indian market and the small petrol and diesel engines are sure to give Nissan the small car excise duty advantage.
The Datsun GO+ is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine, which is the same unit that does duty on the Micra and GO hatchback. This engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and offers decent performance for city driving. However it lacks the grunt on the highways. A 1.5-litre diesel engine could be plonked in to the car for the Indian market. The automaker will put the Datsun GO hatchback on sale in India early next year, for under Rs. 4 lakhs. The Datsun GO+ is likely to rival the Chevrolet Enjoy MPV in our market. Datsun will manufacture cars in India at the Renault-Nissan plant in Oragadam, near Chennai.
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