In what is the
first sighting of the Nissan Kicks in India, IAB reader Kumar Uchit has shared
spy shots of the future model snapped on Nilgiri mountain roads. The Nissan
Kicks for India varies from the global version with changes observed on the
beltline and rear door frame. Nissan's design chief, Alfonso Albaisa, told IAB
last week that the locally adapted version, some say, looks better. We guess
that the interior should have no significant differences, and the spy shot
convey that the side HVAC vent design is the same.
Internationally,
the Nissan Kicks rides on the V platform. For the Indian-spec version, Nissan
has chosen to utilise Dacia’s low-cost B0 platform that offers an impressive
ride quality among other advantages. This platform underpins the Renault
Duster, Nissan Terrano and the Renault Captur. Nissan could offer its premium
SUV with the 1.5-litre H4K petrol engine and the 1.5-litre K9K dCi diesel
engine from these SUVs. An AWD system is not on offer globally, and we don’t
expect that here either.
The Kicks will roll
out of the Alliance plant located in Oragadam, Chennai. Media previews are
likely to take place around the new year while reports say that the market
launch is early next year. The Kicks will compete with the Hyundai Creta and
Maruti S-Cross, with prices likely starting under the INR 10 lakh mark.
