The final iteration of the various bodystyles planned on the same platform from Datsun has now been revealed. As expected the first 3-box avatar is breaking cover in Russia. The Datsun revival a few years ago, targeted very specifically 3 markets - India, Indonesia and Russia, with South Africa joining in subsequently. And the intent was very clear - to begin the innings in each market with a product most relevant to that market. So while India gets the hatch, Indonesia the 7-seater MUV, in Russia it had to be a sedan. South Africa will also kick things off with the made-in-India hatch - the Go.
The first sketches of the sedan show a car that again aims at being ample in appearance, with a muscular stance and an upmarket look. The signature Datsun face and front grille are carried over yet again, and in many ways the car appears to be akin to the Go, right up to the C pillar of course.
The car will likely sport a longer wheelbase than the hatch though, as in the Russian market, interior space holds a lot of significance. Here's the bit you want to know - will the sedan come to India? Well, having been privy to some of the development and planning around the Datsun revival, I can tell you with confidence, the answer is yes! But don't expect the very same car. Sure the interior trim and feature list will be similar (as it is to the hatch we are getting too).
But the Indian sedan will be sub-4 metre. Yup, it has to be highly competitive, aspirational and hold more appeal than the hatch. Yet it must compete with the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire and Tata Indigo CS, and is expected to therefore be priced much lower than them. The recently launched Hyundai Xcent's aggressive pricing which undercuts the Swift Dzire substantially will not help Datsun's plan very much now will it! But Hyundai has said those prices are introductory and so by the time we get the sedan only in 2015, pricing patterns could well have changed.
Datsun aims at having a car smaller than the Go, the Go itself, the Go sedan and the Go+ MUV in the market over the next 3 years. India is the first market to get a Datsun product, even as Russia will have its market introduction with the sedan two weeks after the Go launch in India. There are plans to develop a subcompact SUV in the second phase of product planning, but as I said the 4 cars in phase one, will be enough to keep Datsun busy, and the company hopes - buyers interested as well.
