Datsun Go! Thoughts

Jean Todt slams SA brands for lack of ABS, airbags…

Jean Todt took time out of his busy schedule as president of the FIA to visit South Africa in his other role as the UN’s special envoy for road safety, criticising the local arms of certain brands for selling new vehicles without ABS or airbags as standard.

Todt’s visit formed part of the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) being held in Cape Town in a bid to improve road safety.

We had the chance to interview this automotive legend to get his views on South Africa’s unique situation.

Before Todt stepped on stage, the video below, which was shot in South Africa, was played on the screen to set the tone (please note this is not for sensitive viewers as it contains real CCTV camera footage at the end)…

First, the shocking statistics

1,3 million people die in traffic related incidents globally every year (50 million related injuries)
500 children die every day on the roads globally
Road crashes are the eighth biggest killer in the world
90% of global road deaths happen in developing countries such as ours
15 000 people lose their lives on our roads every year (that’s more than 40 a day)
Road crashes cost the South African economy R143-billion per year
One thousand times more money is spend on AIDS than on road safety

Q&A with Jean Todt

CAR: There appears to be a conflict between your illustrious racing history, being president of the FIA and campaigning for road safety?

Todt: All is about discipline. On a Formula One circuit, all is controlled and the average speed may be over 200 km/h, but the speed limit in the pit lane is only 80 km/h. If a car drives at 81 km/h down the pit lane, the team is severely penalised with a stop-and-go penalty that would ruin its race. Road safety is also about discipline. Safety has improved tremendously in motorsport over the last decades as well.

CAR: The road safety action plan from the GRSP involves six safety conventions that include infrastructure changes, safety technology on new vehicles and periodical technical inspections of vehicles. Some of these actions will take money and time to implement. What can South Africa do to improve road safety right now?

Todt: I am convinced that simple actions like wearing a safety belt, wearing a helmet, stopping drink driving, stopping speeding and education on road safety can cut South African road fatalities by half.

CAR: What do you think of new vehicles sold in South Africa without ABS or airbags?

Todt: It is unacceptable. We are meeting with manufacturers to get [their] buy-in for minimum safety requirements on cars. Electronic stability control and ABS are not that expensive on mass-produced vehicles. Some manufacturers will rather offer an uprated infotainment system than safety systems.

CAR: What will be the impact on road safety of future technologies such as autonomous vehicles?

Todt: This technology will only help first world countries, but not developing countries in the near future. Remember that 90% of road deaths happen in developing countries. It does not help that first-world countries off-load their older carpark of vehicles without the required safety systems to some developing countries.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/jean-todt-slams-sa-brands-for-lack-of-abs-airbags/
 
Yup

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Indonesia: Production-spec Datsun GO Cross spied

The Datsun GO Cross concept was showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo. Now, a spy image of what appears to be a production-spec GO Cross has surfaced online.

The spy image suggests that the production version bears little resemblance to the GO Cross concept. It looks more like the Datsun GO+ MPV.

The rear end of the vehicle is identical to the GO+ except for a few details, such as the roof spoiler and integrated roof rails, dual-tone bumper with a silver scuff plate, and black plastic body cladding. The tail lamp cluster has been borrowed from the GO+ and the side profile too looks identical to the MPV.

Similarly, the GO Cross is expected to get the same interior and dashboard design as the GO+, albeit with minor modifications. Moreover, it will be a 7-seater unlike the concept, which had a 5-seat configuration.

In Indonesia, it will be powered by a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine that produces 67 BHP @ 5,000 rpm and 104 Nm of torque @ 4,000 rpm. It will be offered with a CVT.

As far as the Indian market is concerned, there has been no official word about the Datsun GO Cross.


https://www.team-bhp.com/news/indonesia-production-spec-datsun-go-cross-spied
 
Datsun Go+ gets a 1 star ⭐️ Global NCAP rating (of all the safety features it only has a driver frontal airbag)

source: CAR magazine (ZA) January 2018 page 96
 
Space said:
Datsun Go+ gets a 1 star ️ Global NCAP rating (of all the safety features it only has a driver frontal airbag)

source: CAR magazine (ZA) January 2018 page 96
Click to expand...
They should be banned anong with that Renault abomination with 0 stars.
 
How Many Cars Datsun Has Sold Since Its Revival

Nissan revived the Datsun marque back in March 2014. So, how has the reinvented budget car company – which has faced criticism (including from this publication) for its vehicles’ lack of safety features – fared since then?

Well, Datsun – which is currently operating in 14 countries – says it has now sold 300 000 cars globally.

“Datsun is celebrating a new milestone: 300 000 customers have chosen Datsun cars since the return of the brand in March 2014,” said Jose Roman, corporate vice president and global head of Datsun.

“It’s a short period in the history of any car brand, but we have laid a solid foundation for our future growth,” he added.

In South Africa, Datsun has sold 18 915 cars since its return to local shores in October 2014, and says it is “looking to add additional product to the range later this year” (the new Datsun Cross, perhaps?).

Datsun – which builds its vehicles in India, Russia and Indonesia – says it furthermore plans to expand its footprint on the African continent by entering Zimbabwe.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/how-many-cars-datsun-has-sold-since-its-revival/
 
It would be good to see, with the new powers in place, reinvestment in Zimbabwe
 
Datsun SA Kills Off Base (Airbag-Less) GO Derivative

Datsun South Africa has quietly removed the entry-level model from its GO range, thus effectively raising the budget hatchback’s starting price.

The base Datsun Go 1,2 Mid, which did not feature an airbag and was priced at R108 900, is no longer listed on the brand’s local website. The special-edition GO 1,2 Remix, too, has disappeared from the site.

That leaves the GO 1,2 Lux – which features a single airbag for the driver, but does without ABS – as the lone surviving variant. Interestingly, this derivative’s price has been raised from R128 900 to R131 500.

The seven-seater GO+ (which was last year crash-tested by Global NCAP), meanwhile, is still available in 1,2 Lux guise only, although the price has increased from R141 900 to R144 900. And the GO+ Panel Van now costs R150 900.

All models are powered by the brand’s naturally aspirated 1,2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, which sends 50 kW and 104 N.m to the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission.

In South Africa, Datsun has sold 18 915 vehicles since its return to local shores in October 2014, and says it is “looking to add additional product to the range later this year” (the new Datsun Cross, perhaps?).

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/datsun-sa-kills-off-base-airbag-less-go-derivative/

Datsun.JPG
 
That leaves the GO 1,2 Lux – which features a single airbag for the driver, but does without ABS – as the lone surviving variant. Interestingly, this derivative’s price has been raised from R128 900 to R131 500.
Click to expand...

Lol, But the what are they supposed to do when people are queuing for the thing...
 
Datsun SA adds limited-edition ‘Go Flash’ to local range

Datsun South Africa has quietly added a new limited-edition model to its local Go range, dubbing the newcomer the “Go Flash”.

The Go Flash, which is offered in white or grey, is based on the standard Go hatchback, but at R135 900 costs some R3 000 more.

So, what do you get for the extra cash? Well, Datsun has applied graphics to the body, bonnet and roof, while also adding a silver exhaust finisher and mud-flaps to the mix.

Inside, the Go Flash gains a radio system complete with Bluetooth and USB (the standard model features a mobile docking station instead) as well as a splash of silver trim.

As with the standard hatch, the Go Flash is powered by a naturally aspirated 1,2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, sending 50 kW and 104 N.m to the front axle via a five-speed manual gearbox. It likewise features a single airbag and does without ABS.

At the start of 2018, Datsun SA quietly removed the entry-level, airbag-less model from its Go range.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news/datsun-sa-adds-limited-edition-go-flash-local-range/

image.jpeg
 
It's not the worst looking vehicle right now but yoh, v1.0 was an abominition. That front seat. Was like something from the 70s. Reminded me of the well loved 1/2 ton bakkie.
 
Tata tried the 'FLASH' treatment a while ago, slapping a few 'extra cosmetic add-ons' like alloy rims, air-conditioning, Bluetooth radio with USB, leather upholstery & steering wheel, and gaudy 'FLASH' decals on their base model Indica B-Line - that flopped like a lead balloon at a selling price of R 124,995, as buyers went ga-ga over the Renault Kwid instead, with had a multi-function infotainment system included as standard, also selling at a similar price-point.

Tata-Indica-Flash.jpg

Now we have Datsun gilding their miserable little econobox turd, the GO, also with a few tacky 'FLASH' graphics glued to the body, bonnet and roof, Bluetooth radio with USB, a silver exhaust finisher, plastic hub-caps and some mud-flaps slapped onto it, which is just under R 11,000 more expensive than the TATA (which had more 'extras') was.

This will also go under & sink, just like the RMS Titanic did in April 1912, as its sibling, the Kwid, is still more popular at the moment.

MARCH 2018 Sales figures:

Renault Kwid – 856
Datsun GO – 610
 
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Is the Kwid still a 0 star Ncap car? Or am I thinking of something else?
 
manicminer said:
Is the Kwid still a 0 star Ncap car? Or am I thinking of something else?
Click to expand...


You may remember a report from earlier this year about five vehicles each failing to score a single star for adult occupancy during Global NCAP crash-tests conducted in India. The Renault Kwid was one of those cars.

At the time, the organisation said a few versions of the budget mini-crossover were tested, but each scored zero stars for adult safety. Renault then promised that a safer version was on the way.

Global NCAP has just tested this latest version (still without ABS), but unfortunately the results aren’t much better. The Kwid was again assessed in the 64 km/h frontal impact test but could muster just one star for adult occupant protection.

The standard Kwid in India is offered without airbags.

The latest version includes an airbag only for the driver and a seat-belt pre-tensioner for the driver’s seat. During the test, Global NCAP said that this version still showed “high chest deflection” for the driver, explaining the one-star rating.

“The protection offered to the driver head and neck by the airbag was good. However, the protection to the chest due to high chest compression was poor and the passenger’s chest received weak protection as well. The passenger’s knees could impact with dangerous structures in the dashboard,” the report read.

“The body-shell was rated as unstable and cannot withstand further loadings. It was confirmed that Renault added reinforcements in the structure but only in the driver side and not in the passenger side,” the report concluded.

The Kwid also scored just a single star in the child occupancy safety test.

“Renault has made limited progress; they should be offering their one-star car as the standard version, not an option,” said David Ward, secretary general of Global NCAP.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news/industry-news/renault-kwid-scores-one-star-in-global-ncap-testing/
 
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