vehicle reveal |
by Howard Keeg
All Systems GO
When it was announced in March last year by the suits at Nissan that
the Datsun brand was to return in 2014, both globally and regionally,
I was in equal measure Shocked, Surprised, and Satisfied. It was a
triple S of emotions. So when Nissan invited me early in June 2014 to a
“Break Through” event I was there like a shot, salivating at the thought
of some more SSS pleasure.
W
ell, the Nissan guys now call these
emotions DAT, and it is a triple S
of questions. DAT is for DREAM
(where do you want to be?), ACCESS (how
will you get there?), and TRUST (who will
have your back?). And the vehicle (excuse
the pun) for this acronymic return will be
the Datsun GO, an entry-level car which is
aimed primarily at the first time buyer.
Thus the aim is to introduce the car, when
it goes on sale in the last quarter of 2014,
at under R100 000. I though t that the R100
000 target was a bold move when it was
announced in March 2013, but subsequently
with the drop in the Rand of some 20%
since then, it borders on the insane. But
the Datsun guys are determined to make a
statement, so good luck to them.
Des Fenner, general manager of Datsun
South Africa, says that with the Indian Rupee
also suffering a depreciation during this
period, and with the car being manufactured
in India, it may just be possible to pull off this
Houdini act. But don’t expect this incredibly
low price to last too long, because the forces
of economics will eventually prevail.
The reveal of the car was indeed revealing,
as it had some interesting characteristics
and innovations. The boot is big for a car in
this segment, the exterior styling is modern,
the interior is spacious, the gear lever and
hand brake interestingly positioned, and
the unique Mobile Docking Station (MDS) is
great, as it allows the driver to sync his or
her Smartphone directly with the car via an
AUX cable.
➲ Des Fenner, general manager of Datsun
South Africa, says that Datsun will start
with a network of 30 Datsun branded
dealerships throughout South Africa, a
number which will be doubled in midterm. When asked whether we can look
forward to a revamped SSS, he responds
that when Datsun entered South Africa
for the first time in 1961 it started with a
1,2 litre engine vehicle. So history may be
repeating itself, and Des says coyly “watch
this space”
With a claimed fuel
consumption of less than
5l/100km, a “nippy” engine
(as described by Fenner), and a
range of optional accessories to
allow for personalisation, this
all translates into a Generation
Y Riser’s dream.
➲ The greatly anticipated Datsun GO is revealed by, left to right, Vincent Cobee, global head of Datsun and corporate vice president of
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd; Mike Whitfield, managing director Nissan South Africa and president RAF-S; Stuart Norman, managing director sales
and marketing Nissan South Africa; and Des Fenner, general manager Datsun South Africa
| Wheels in Action
80
july 2014