Updated on 7th October 2014
The Datsun Go+ MPV will not be launched in 2014 as reported earlier, the launch has been delayed to 2015. Datsun has not had much success with the Datsun Go hatchback launched earlier in 2014, and this seems to have delayed the launh of the Go+. Datsun and parent company Nissan want the brand to grow more before they launch the MPV, this will ensure that the MPV will see better sales figures than the hatchback. The Datsun Go+ will deliver the same promises that the Go hatchback does, more (space, features and value) for less (price) and is expected to attract a lot of customers who are looking for a family vehicle which will easy on their pockets.
Stay tuned for more updates.
Updated on 29th May 2014
The Datsun Go+ MPV has been spotted testing in India, indicating that the launch of the vehicle in India is not far off. The test mule was spied testing near Chennai, where the MPV will eventually be assembled. Check out the spy shot below.
Updated on 14th May 2014
Recently, Japanese auto-giant Nissan has targeted the emerging markets in the developing nations like India, Brasil, and other south-east Asian countries by providing ‘more for less’ in its cars. In these markets, where low cost family vehicles are a priority, the company has quickly raked in a decent market share. In continuation of this effort, Nissan’s sub brand Datsun, which is in place to take care of the emerging market needs, is coming up with its second car in less than 2 months time. After the well received launch of the Go hatchback in March 2014, Datsun is coming up with a stretched version of the same. Datsun Go+ MPV which was first unveiled at the Indonesian International Motor Show- 2013, was officially launched by Nissan on May 8 2014 in Jakarta. As of now, the MPV has only been launched in Indonesia, but will be heading to India in few months time.
In MPV obsessed Indonesia, the car will be sold by the name of Go+ Panca which means ‘five’ in the local language and thus explains the seating capacity of 5+. Vincent Cobee, Global Head of Datsun, stated, “Today we celebrate the launch of Datsun GO+ Panca in Indonesia. Datsun is a brand with a special place in the hearts of Indonesia’s car enthusiasts. Many Datsun owners’ clubs have remained active since their heyday of the 1970s.”
Photo Gallery: Datsun Go+ Panca
The five-door, 5+2 Datsun GO+ Panca is powered by a 1.2-liter, 68 BHP engine paired to a five-speed manual transmission. Starting at 85 million IDR (Rs. 4.41 Lakh)on the road Jakarta, Datsun GO+ Panca will revolutionize the segment with best-in-class roominess, being the only model to offer a spacious and flexible three-row interior at this price. The Datsun Go+ looks like a stretched version of the Go hatchback and shares many of its design cues and interiors including the the accessories like mobile charging dock. It is 1.6-meters wide, 1.4-meters high and more importantly 3.95 meters long which will qualifying it for the concessions available under the sub four-metre taxing policy when it is launched in India. This will enable Datsun to price it competitively against rivals such as the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga or the Mahindra Quanto. It will also be the lightest MPV in its class, and that should help in terms of mileage.
However, since this an MPV, we expect that on higher spec variants Datsun will offer features like AC vents for the second row and foldable third row seats to increase boot space. Judging by the of the launch pictures, the third row does not get operable windows and thus the passengers will have to bank on the second row windows and AC vents for better air-circulation.
In future an automatic variant may be made available. Datsun is currently working on setting up their own showrooms in India. Let’s hope Datsun maintains the same prices in India as they could take on their rivals aggressively and swing the momentum in their favour. The car will be manufactured at Nissan’s Orangadam plant in Tamil Nadu and Datsun’s promise of maximum localisation of components should also lead to a very competitive price.
Indonesian customers can start placing orders today for the new car, with first deliveries scheduled from June. We will keep you posted with the India official launch.
But for now, do let us know what you think of this low cost MPV.
