Japanese classic brand, Datsun, entered India with the Go hatch in 2014 followed by a more family centric Go+ MPV in 2015. Both these offerings were offered as a fresh alternative to conventional solutions. Now that the brand has catered to the functional needs, it will extend its presence among the aspirational class with the redi-Go; a crossover targeting the younger audience.
At a recent interaction with Vincent Cobee, Global Head Datsun, we learnt what makes the redi-Go, a crossover to look out for. When asked the reason for entering a segment which is not so popular in the entry-level range, he stated that Dastun, with the Go and Go+, has already fulfilled rational demands and now the brand wants to reach out to the adventurous kinds at a pre-family stage looking for a solution to combine practicality with style and attitude.
He pointed out that in modern times, the gap between need and wish is slowly narrowing down and the redi-Go will be slotted in this gap. It won’t just be a me too crossover with pseudo claddings with made-to-look-tough accessories, but a real time vehicle which will be more capable than the normal offerings.
In terms of design, the redi-Go will have an enthusiastic language to make it justify its crossover tag. As pointed by Koji Nagano, Executive Design Director - Datsun, the redi-Go will endorse a sleek design instead of the tried and tested aggression. It will be lean and muscular at the same time. The family styled grille will dominate the front face while the sleek lines on the headlight and the bumper will flow throughout the body.
To the side, the flared arches with a wedge line joining the rear taillights will give it the necessary character. Also importantly, it will have a taller ground clearance as specifically pointed by Vincent. The fact that the redi-Go will borrow the CMF-A platform confirms that that this too will have a 180mm ground clearance and will ideally run on 15-inch alloys, as shown in the concept. The taller ground clearance will contribute to a proper visibility and greater safety of the vehicle.
Vincent was also sure that the new Crossover from Datsun will not have gimmicky additions as he believes that doing so doesn’t really help in any way. Instead, it will have a stronger load bearing capacity with larger practical options for storage. In terms of power train, he is convinced that the segment has still not matured for a diesel motor. He cited higher torque as a strong reason for diesel being a popular fuel type in larger vehicles especially in SUVs but the same won’t necessarily repeat in an entry level city car.
Datsun redi-Go launch is expected to happen by early 2016 and will be priced between Rs 3 lakhs to Rs 4 lakhs. Upon its launch in India, the redi-Go will not have able rivals but will still compete against the likes of Alto, Eon and even the Renault Kwid. If they can manage to make the production version closely resemble the concept, offer features that no one offers and finally, price it right, the redi-Go will redefine the segment and set a new benchmark for its rivals to follow.
