It’s no ordinary brand. It comes with a grand legacy. Datsun is a world renowned brand and on March 19, 2014 the first Datsun will be sold to customers in India in the 21st century. Datsun originated in Japan as DAT-GO (the DAT-car) almost a century ago in 1914. The ‘Go’ will be taking on every small hatch in India and in particular will take on the might of both Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor. Having driven the car from the Hyderabad Airport in Samshabad along a route that had some very good roads and excellent scenery coupled with tidy surroundings, the Go drove like a breeze. The moment you set eyes on the car you are glad to notice its contemporary styling and some modern design elements. For customers on the lookout for something new and refreshing in the small car segment, the Datsun Go is the answer.
EXTERIOR
You have got to be impressed by the face of the car. You cannot miss the Datsun ‘D’ cut grille. The integrated bumper houses three air intakes. Not to miss are the large fully integrated three dimensional headlight assemblies. With the wheelbase at 2450mm, the Datsun Go is 3785mm from bumper to bumper. Ideal for Indian roads, the Go has a ground clearance of 170mm. That, simply put, has its own set of advantages, especially on the sub-standard Indian roads with some very tricky speed breakers. The driving position is higher than in some rival cars, which results in better all-round visibility while driving.
INTERIOR
It’s simple. That’s the best way to describe the interior of the car. The moment you sit in the driver’s seat, you realise you are in a commanding position and everything around you is just about perfect. The three spoke steering wheel is a perfect fit in your hands. The single instrument panel suggests that there is no ostentatious display of gadgetry. The distinctive white and blue colour of the speedometer incorporates a digital tachometer and a gear shift guide. One must remember the Go is a car that could be a first purchase for a family and hence every bit of guidance can help the driver save fuel.
The centre section of the dashboard houses two smart air vents while two more are on either end of the dash. These could be closed if necessary. The distinctive features for the Go are the gear lever and the brake handle that are mounted in the centre of the console. This makes a lot of sense in India because now even in crowded areas one can enter and exit with great ease, especially after parking in a tight spot. This positioning of the levers has resulted in a ‘connected’ seat in front. Despite Datsun claiming that the long seat is meant for only two people (a driver and co-passenger), one can expect to see an entire Indian family travelling sitting in front! In India, they throw safety out of the window the moment they are seated in a car! There are loads of areas for storage, whether it is under the dash or by the side of the doors. Both for the front passengers as well as rear passengers, there is enough head room as well as leg room. As for the boot space, at 265 litres, it is the best in its class.
PERFORMANCE BASED ON ENGINEERING
The very fact that it took us a few seconds to reach a speed of 160kmph, it signifies that the car is light and strong. We were three grown up adults in the car, even then the car took a few fleeting moments to reach that speed. The Datsun Go weighs 769kg. The good ride comfort and handling have been the result of a sophisticated double pivoted lower arm front suspension with a torsion beam rear suspension. The Go is equipped with special high response linear dampers, which generate the appropriate damping forces more accurately than conventional dampers. These designs have been borrowed from the company’s luxury brand Infiniti where such dampers help reduce the body’s pitch and squat movement over poor surfaces for added ride comfort.
The 1198cc three-cylinder petrol engine is an ideal match for the small Datsun Go. The maximum power generated is a cool 67bhp@5000rpm and a torque of 104Nm@4000rpm. It sprints to 100kmph in 13.3 seconds. We nudged it further and it easily reached 160kmph and was ready for more. When driven sensibly, the car does 20.63km to a litre of petrol.
INTERESTING FEATURES FOR A SMALL CAR
Not to be missed out, the Datsun Go comes with some very interesting features for its segment. The car features an Intelligent Wiping System. This system varies the wiping interval depending on the speed of the vehicle.
The car does not come with an audio system but something more innovative than such a system. It has a unique Mobile Docking Station wherein a smartphone can be synced directly with the car. So everything your smart phone can do, it can now be done through this docking station.
The new Datsun Go also features a segment first---a Follow Me Home lights to ensure that the way ahead is illuminated even after the car is switched off and locked at night. Interestingly, as the driver leaves the car he or she simply pulls the headlamp flasher to illuminate the headlights which automatically switch themselves off after a predetermined period: one pull leaves the lights on for 30 seconds, two pulls for one minute, three for 90 seconds and four for two minutes. That’s enough time for you to unlock your house and get inside safely.
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