Because Car Because Datsun

IT’S not very often that we see a new automotive manufacturer enter our market, let alone one that revives itself. I was recently at the launch of Datsun’s Go, a new model from the Nissan stable, aimed straight at the younger generation. The Datsun brand is well-known locally but this more youthful revival compared with the conservative products of the 60s and 70s, certainly means the brand has a new consumer base in mind. Unique selling proposition It’s difficult to bring up the Go without mentioning the price. You can set off to one of the brand’s 44 dealerships across the country and leave with a brand-new Datsun GO price d very nicely and in these trying times, this is quite astonishing. Even the better-equipped Lux model comes with a reasonable pricetag, which includes power steering. This opens the brand up to a whole new segment of young, first-time buyers The pitfalls There are some problems with the car though, as the low price of the Datsun GO is great , but it doe...

Nissan has been struggling to sell cars in India since its inception here. Then came the management's decision to launch a new low-cost car brand - Datsun - and honestly, it was quite surprising. Nissan intended to cater to entry-level buyers with Datsun; the ones who are either buying a car for the first time, or are daily commuters. The one thing true for such buyers is that they always prefer a brand with an established service network and strong presence across the country, and that, definitely isn't the case with Nissan. That sums up why I was sceptical about its chances of success and also why Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai dominate the entry-level market in India. Nissan, however, looks at it differently and believes that Datsun - with the promise of better build quality in the budget segment - has the potential to become a good alternative to traditional strong players in that space. The company started its journey with the GO hatchback, which is the most spacious ...

The limited-edition “Flash” has only just been added to the local Datsun GO range, but now the Nissan-backed brand has revealed a facelifted version of the budget hatchback in Indonesia. The mid-cycle update has been applied to both the standard Go hatchback and the seven-seater Go+ model, which slot in below the Go Cross that was unveiled at the start of 2018 (but still has not been confirmed for South Africa). The updated model gains fresh front (now with integrated LED daytime running lights rather than fog lamps) and rear bumpers as well as redesigned headlamps. The side-mirrors, meanwhile, gain integrated indicators. No word yet on whether the updated model will gain ABS (or additional airbags over the standard driver-side item). Interestingly, the Datsun Go hatchback in the press images above appears to be wearing a body kit that adds more aggressive bumpers and a rear spoiler. Inside, the Indonesian-spec Go gains a new 6,75-inch touchscreen infotainment system as wel...

Now available as a versatile panel van & 7-seater Since the introduction of the Datsun GO to the South African market back in October 2014, the Datsun GO’s styling, economical value and reliability have made Datsun a household favourite amongst the young and young at heart looking for a new vehicle that is affordable for both. To add to the compact hatchback that we’ve come to love, is the new-look Datsun GO+ which boasts a combination 7 seater or panel van option, depending on your personal, business or fleet needs. Datsun GO+ (Plus) is Personal and Professional The new Datsun GO+ has the hallmarks of the Datsun styling with the added advantage of additional seating (in the passenger model) and a solid cargo area with a commercial partition (in the panel van model). Whether you’re looking for your first family-friendly commuter or you’re a young entrepreneur looking to get your business fleet off the ground with this light commercial – then the new Datsun Go+ has ...

For many South Africans, the word Datsun conjures up fond memories of the first car they ever owned, the first taste of mobility, freedom and adventure on the long open road. Whether it was a Super Sport Sedan, the so called SSS, that made them feel like a race car driver, or a station wagon with room for the whole family, and the dog, on a never-ending road trip full of fun and games! Datsun definitely has a special place in the collective memory of South African road users. With the modernised Datsun GO , you can now relive those special memories. But let’s take look at the company’s long, colourful history. Looking back For anything to last more than a century, they must be doing something right! DAT GO (meaning the Dat Car) originated in Japan around the time World War I broke out in 1914. The word DAT is made up of the first letters of the three financiers’ names, namely Den, Aoyama and Takeuchi. Fortunately, it also means ‘lighting fast’ (or ‘to dash off like a st...