In today's chapter of 'cool looking cars we'll most probably never get in New Zealand ever', we have this; the new Datsun Go Live Concept.
The rather funky little hatchback has been showcased by Nissan's cheap and cheerful sub-brand in Indonesia — highlighting a heap of customization options (how about that decal package!) and an eager face. It's based on the existing Go hatchback (think Suzuki Swift rival ... it's based on the Micra after all) that Datsun sell across a number of markets including India, Indonesia, and Russia.
If it wasn't obvious from the outset, know that this little Go Live Concept is hardly going to worry the hulking beasts on top of the hot hatch segment — let alone the likes of the Ford Fiesta ST or Suzuki Swift Sport. Under the bonnet lives a 1.2-litre petrol engine, which itself is linked to a dinky five-speed manual transmission.
"We didn't want to just have a sporty execution of the design – like having it sit low to the ground and extra wide – because that's so typical and predictable in today's world,” said Datsun's executive design director Kei Kyu.
“Instead, we wanted to show that this car makes a strong design statement to our customers, who express themselves through their vehicles and help them celebrate their passions."
That ... sounds like marketing dribble to me. The reason this isn't 'low to the ground' or 'extra wide' is because those things cost money and engineering nous — two things someone like Datsun are unlikely to be able to find.
Styling-wise, this looks like a winner, and like something that will strike a chord with the youth market if it were to ever hit the market. However, consider too that the Go hatchback it's based on holds the abysmal honour of scoring a zero-star rating in NCAP crash testing — a feat that prompted NCAP Chairman Max Mosley to call on Nissan to withdraw the Go.
Cheap and cheerful? The Go disappointingly ticks both boxes.
