Called the Go - Datsun unveils simple hatchback for Indian market

A new chapter began for Datsun with the world premiere of its first model - Go. The model's name was inspired by the first Datsun, the Dat-Go, launched almost a century ago in Japan. CEO, Carlos Ghosn, unveiled the budget hatchback at a showcase event in India, with Datsun joining Nissan and Infiniti as Nissan Motor Company's third marque.

"We're bringing it back and giving it a modern shape, with modern technology that is particularly aimed at the high-growth market, addressing the segments where Nissan has no offer," Ghosn said at the launch.

The all new Go, on sale in India from early next year, promises to combine space for five with impressive fuel efficiency and acceleration at a price well below 400,000 Indian rupees (S$8,493). No technical details were provided, except the Go is powered by a 1.2-litre powertrain - probably akin to the one in the current Micra/March - and mated to a five-speed manual transmission.

The returning Japanese marque will focus on emerging markets like Indonesia, Russia and South Africa - by the end of 2014 - with models to be individually developed to cater to each market. The world premiere of the Go at Delhi's Kingdom of Dreams had a touch of Bollywood, a debut in the nation where Datsun is expected to contribute half of Nissan's group-wide sales by 2016.