If you thought that the Micra is the end of Nissan’s small car story for India for now, you’re wrong. The company knows very well that the Indian market is all about small cars, and plans to launch two more small cars below the Micra to strengthen its product portfolio for India.
ACI reveals that Nissan plans to utilise the old Micra platform to cut down costs and prepare a model which will compete with the likes of the WagonR and Santro. Codenamed K2, the new car is slated for a launch in late 2012 and would be priced in the region of Rs 3.5 lakh. Engine options will include the 1.2 litre three cylinder mill that powers the Micra as well as a new 1.0 litre engine which is expected to be very fuel efficient.
The car will be made for the Indian as well as the export market. There will be two versions, a short and a long wheelbase one. The LWb version will be sent out to export markets, while the SWB version will do duty here. There will also be an MPV version to cater to the Indonesian market.
Another car to hit our roads from the Nissan stable would be an even cheaper hatchback. Codenamed I2, the new car will take the challenge directly to the industry leading Alto. Tested by Defiance Testing and Engineering, a US company is owned by Ashok Leyland, which is a JV partner of Nissan in India. A major part of R&D for the Alto rival will be carried out in India, the price will be kept low at Rs 2.5 lakh and will be launched sometime in 2013.
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