Dacia has a NEW competitor

ba_barabus

http://www.datsun.com/

But we won't be getting it for now AFAIK

colm_mcm

Will they not be basically dacias anyway?

kasper

http://cars.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/datsun-cherry/5261697

back in the day we had

TrailerBob

It even looks like a micra... Nissan's sub branding to keep up with the trend for supercheap cars. But Datsun is a major throwback name... maybe to get the oldies to but them!! i remember my uncle had a brown Datsun 120Y, and our neighbour had a blue Urvan minbus..

ba_barabus

I think the whole point is to use the Dacia running gear. It's the most expensive part to develop and its already paid for itself. Every unit they make now will be pure profit. If the Renault Nissan joint venture can flood the market they would have dominance.

The Datsun name is also a great starting point as its familiar and known for longevity. I have read rumours online that PSA are possibly doing the same with Simca or possibly Talbot.

Mitch Connor

Jayzus - reckon those wheels would give a very uncomfortable ride!

ba_barabus

A small bit more digging reveals exactly what its based on which is another maker in the Renault brand portfolio, Lada. Or more specifically its based directly on the Lada Kalina.

It's a sub Dacia brand that Nissan is hoping to create for emerging markets. I immediately doubt we will get it for a long time.

road_high

Would be a good move for Renault/Nissan. The Datsun brand still has a super name for reliability (despite the rust). They would run forver and were very economical.

colm_mcm

If you look at the doors they're pure dacia

Id imagine they'd use the brand in countries where renault wouldn't be an established brand

ba_barabus

colm_mcm wrote: »

If you look at the doors they're pure dacia

From reading up the Lada parts are all the underneath parts. The body is different but as doors are probably the most time consuming part of the body to develop it makes sense to use the Dacia ones.

Even Dacia use the same doors across the range with different skins on them.

ba_barabus

colm_mcm wrote: »

Id imagine they'd use the brand in countries where renault wouldn't be an established brand

From reading up it appears its actually to launch Nissan in new markets.

Hold on I'll post the article where I got this from

ba_barabus

It's an old article but its hard to get background info.

http://europe.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121228/ANE/312259999/new-datsuns-will-share-platform-with-lada#axzz2Xt5wxSb6

BobBobBobBob

Jesus! They did a bad job on that picture!!!

tin79

Do they do a version with round wheels?