Datsun Rebrands And Introduces A New Car

On Tuesday I honored an invitation to attend the unveiling of Datsun's new car. Seeing that I am not much of a car enthusiasts, my interest in the event was more about the re-branding of the iconic name that is synonymous with bakkies rather than cool car.

Datsun has really done its homework and want people like myself to be interested in the brand.

The car brand unveiled their aptly named new car, Datsun Go at a swanky event in Newtown-Johannesburg and everyone, myself included, in attendance seemed to approve of the new direction the brand has taken.

The Datsun GO is said to “offer first time new car buyers accessible motoring” with its stylish and modern looks and all the benefits that come with the pricier models in its segment.

Representing a simple city car, the five-door Go comes in at 1.6m wide, 1.4m tall and 3.7m long with a 2.4m wheelbase and is powered by a 1.2 petrol engine sending power to the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox. Fuel efficiency is rated to be over 20km/L.

“In creating the Go we designed a brand-new car that has all the benefits of models that are much more expensive. Our car has class-leading performance, economy and handling and is built to requirements, not down to a price… the addition of the many advanced features proves this,” said Vincent Cobee, global head of Datsun.

The car essentially meets all the cool expectations of the new targeted clientele, whom the brand call "The Risers"

“Research has indicated that the Datsun GO purchasers, place a premium on having a car that reflects their individual personalities. As such a full range of optional accessories will be available to personalize the Datsun GO to owner’s requirements” added Des Fenner, General Manager, Datsun.

As for the event, not many familiar faces at the venue but Model Sasha Naaidoo, Socialite Koyo Bala and Tv Personality Loot Love manged to brave the cold and show face.