Nissan has recently dropped a couple of exciting teasing images of its highly anticipated upcoming Magnite sub-compact SUV. The teased images reveal glimpses of the car’s front styling. It is scheduled to be revealed on 16th July, in Japan.
This will also be the company’s cheapest SUV globally and will also be making its way to India.
While the company is planning to showcase a concept vehicle in the reveal event, the actual production model will be very close to the concept vehicle and the final product can be expected to differ in terms of wheel and tyre sizes only.
Nissan Magnite: What do the teased images reveal?
To build up customer’s excitement, the company has teased only a couple of snaps of the SUV, that too under wraps and the maiden glance will straightaway remind you of signature design elements being derived from other popular cars of the Nissan family.
Inspired from other Nissan sisters
While the sharp and stretched back headlights seem to have borrowed the inspiration from the Nissan Kicks, the L-shaped DRLs that come across as a prominent highlight in the teased images have also been offered with the Datsun Redi-go, Nissan’s highest selling car in India at the moment.
Was originally supposed to carry Datsun badging
Even with the slight glimpse of the octagonal grille, it is easy to suggest that it is housed from the Datsun. As a matter of fact, this car was supposed to come with a Datsun badging, but the idea was dropped later.
Images show aggressive SUV design elements
One of the teased images that shows the front right part of the vehicle’s profile, reveals that the car will get many design additions so that it comes across as a muscular car. It includes thick wheel arches, skid plates and plastic cladding etc. Like many compact SUV on sale in the market, even the Magnite can be expected to get a dual-tone colour treatment.
What Engine options will it get?
Like its cousin concern, the Renault Kiger, Magnite will get a couple of engine options. While the lower trims are expected to source the 1.0L petrol engine from Renault Triber, The upper trims much like the Kiger will get a turbocharged petrol engine
The 1.0L unit that powers the Triber churns out a 71 PS of max power and peak torque output of 96 Nm. This particular engine is expected to get a 5-speed manual and an AMT gearbox
The turbo unit will produce substantially improved performance figures, as the power output might shot up to 100 PS and even the peak torque figures can see a significant improvement. Turbo unit is likely to be offered with a choice of 5-speed manual and a CVT automatic transmission.
Expected Features
Since the car will have to face stringent competition, especially in a country like India, where the compact SUV space has seen an exponential rise in popularity. Nissan thus will be thinking of packing this car up to the brim. Hence, the car will surely get all the customary bells and whistles, and Nissan might top it by offering features that its flagship car Kicks features. So the inclusion of a 360-degree camera, smarter and bigger infotainment system, leather upholstery should not come as a surprise.
Expected Price
If I was asked, the single most exciting factor that has got me psyched about the Magnite, it will hand down be the pricing. As stated by the company earlier, Magnite will be priced aggressively. In fact, Nissan is eyeing the title of the most affordable subcompact SUV.
The Magnite could retail at an introductory price as low as Rs. 5.25 Lakhs for the entry-level variant.
Expected Launch
Nissan has not really enjoyed a very successful run in the Indian market and so they will be desperate to give their stint in India, a new lease of life with a capable product in Magnite.
The company looked good to launch it in August 2020, but due to COVID-19 situation, they have finally decided against it. The car might be expected to arrive in India around the festive season or sometime in early 2021.
Author’s Take
Though this article basically intends to talk about inferences drawn from a couple of teased images, Magnite is already creating a lot of hype, especially with the expectations of an aggressive pricing. Nissan Magnite has got me excited.
With a plethora of exciting options like Hyundai Venue, Maruti Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport, Tata Nexon and Mahindra XUV300 already on sale in the market and the arrival of promising contenders like Kia Sonet, Renault Kiger and Toyota Urban Cruiser, It will be some task for the Magnite to rake up decent sales figures in India. But if they manage to get pricing somewhere around the expectations, the Nissan offering could really end up stepping up the Japanese automaker’s sub-par performance in India.
