At the 2014 Delhi Motor Show, Nissan India showcased the Redi-Go concept alongside the Go+ MPV. If media reports are to be believed, the production version of the car will go on sale in May, 2015. This small car dimensionally looks closer to the Chevrolet hatchback; however, it features a crossover-like design and has higher ground clearance.
Codenamed as Datsun i2, the small hatchback is being developed in India at RNTBCI (Renault Nissan Technology Business Centre India). It is based on the all-new low cost platform, which is also likely to spawn Renault’s compact hatch- Codenamed XBA. The small car is expected to be powered by a newly developed 80cc three-cylinder petrol unit, which is being developed by Renault-Nissan Alliance in India.
The Redi-Go based car is likely to be manufactured at Renault-Nissan Alliance’s Oragadam plant near Chennai. This small car would be positioned under sub-4 lakh category and is targeting the first time car buyers. The Datsun Redi-Go compact car is also expected to enter into various developing nations including Indonesia, India, Russia and South Africa.
Nissan is trying hard to capture more market share in the Indian car market. With Datsun products, the company is aiming to penetrate the budget segment which is currently being dominated by Maruti Suzuki India. The Redi-Go based compact car would compete against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Celerio, Chevrolet Beat, etc.
