Review Car

The Datsun Redi GO is the third car from the Japanese automaker as part of its re launch strategy for the brand. It was unveiled at the 2014 Auto Expo and will join the GO, GO+ and the soon to be unveiled sedan (Russia market only) as Datsun’s budget offerings for various markets. It is a B-segment hatchback and is expected to sit above the GO hatchback in the Datsun hierarchy.
Exterior
The Redi-GO gets a slightly more futuristic adaptation of the Japanese automaker’s fascia that was unveiled with the GO in July last year. It retains the chrome hexagonal grille from the GO and GO+ but gets sleeker swept back headlights. The fascia also includes a futuristic bumper which is separated from the front grille by a narrow air dam. The headlights and the fog lamps are both LED units but we expect that in the production version, the hatchback will get standard halogen units in a bid to keep the cost of the car down.
The side profile includes flared wheel arches and aerodynamic lines that extend into the boot and then onto the other side. The Redi GO’s roofline slopes at both ends and gives the impression that the car is forward leaning thanks to the little bits of the body work that cover the edge of the A-pillar and the C-pillar. Despite the quirky design, the Redi GO is a four door but we expect that headroom in the second row will be a bit of an issue if this is the shape adapted in the production version.
At the rear, the Redi GO gets a sloping roofline with a smaller rear spoiler. The two-tone bumper is body coloured expect for the number plate holder which has been painted in grey to match the same section on the front bumper. The tail lamp assembly flows from the rear wheel arch to a point near the middle of the boot door. Despite the rest of the car having so many lines and little touches to give it a funky appearance, the rear is little less spectacular than the rest of the car. We already know that it has a wheelbase of 2.3 meters which means the overall length of the Redi GO should be in the range of 3.2-3.6 meters.
Interiors
The interiors of the Redi GO have not been revealed but we expect that it will be a slightly more premium version than the ones found in the GO and GO+. It is expected to get all the standard features like the AUX-IN with two speakers, mobile charging point, beige upholstery, the dash-mounted gear lever and handbrake.
Engines
It is expected to be powered by the same 1.2-litre three cylinder engine that produces 67bhp and 104Nm of torque. Power is transmitted to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. It is possible that this car maybe offered with a CNG or an LPG compatible option also.
Price, competition and launch
It is expected to be priced in the range of Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 5.5 lakh and will compete in the B-segment with the Chevrolet Sail hatchback, Tata Indica eV2 and the Hyundai i10. It is expected to be launched in early 2015 for most of the markets where Datsun has a presence.

The Ka is the new hatchback concept from Ford, developed under the code name ‘B562’. Like the EcoSport, this hatchback is also developed by Ford Brazil indicating that this product will primarily target emerging markets including India.
The Ka concept was unveiled in Brazil, last November, with the design cues similar to that of the European Ford Mondeo. Ford says the Ka concept highlights "bold design, quality engineering and innovative technologies", and adds that it will be "a new choice for entry-level urban customers".
The Ka concept is expected to be production ready by the end of this year and it will be launched in India in the first quarter of 2015. The hatchback will most probably be the first model to be rolled-out from Ford’s new facility in Sanand, Gujarat.
The Ka concept looks bigger that the Figo hatchback, but proper comparison can be made only when we have the exact dimensions. The fascia of the Ka is similar to that to the current generation Fords, the headlights look futuristic but these won’t be part of the production version. However, we don’t expect too many other changes in the design of the final product.
The production version of the Ka will use the 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine, only the entry-level variants may be offered sans the turbocharger. The diesel version will continue to derive power from the 1.4-litre TDCI mill.
A lot will depend upon Ford’s positioning of the new car. If the new car is positioned as the Figo replacement, then we might miss out on certain features like the SYNC system and powershift automatic transmission. However, if Ford positions this car above the Figo to compete with the i20 and the Polo then it might get some additions to become viable in that segment. For India, the Ka concept might also be a base for a sub-four metre sedan to compete with the Maruti Suzuki Dzire and the Honda Amaze. Once launched, the new sedan will replace the Ford Fiesta Classic.
Ford will debut the new Ka concept in India at the 2014 Auto Expo. We might also get some additional information from the American manufacturer regarding the launch of the new hatchback at the event.