Nissan Kicks production version

Nissan Kicks compact SUV revealed in production guise

Nissan Kicks production version (4)

After last week’s teaser images, the production version of the Nissan Kicks concept has been finally revealed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ahead of its official launch on May 2. Specific to the South American country for now, the Kicks takes after its concept which was first displayed at the 2014 Sao Paulo Auto Show.  The Kicks has been designed under the leadership of Nissan’s Global Design Center in Japan,apart from input from two teams – Nissan Design America (NDA) in San Diego, US, and Nissan Design America Rio (NDA-R), the satellite design studio recently opened in Rio de Janeiro.

Nissan Kicks production version (6)

The production version stays fairly honest to the concept. Nissan’s signature, chunky V grille rules the front end and is accompanied by a pair of crisply styled headlights with a bulge that integrate seamlessly with the flared fenders. The compact SUV will also sport a cool, floating roof and boomerang-shaped tail lamps at the back. The interior and other technical specifications haven’t been divulged yet, but the Kicks is expected to be based on Nissan’s V-platform that underpins the Micra and the Sunny.

Nissan Kicks production version (2)

Power will reportedly come from a 1.6-litre flex-fuel (petrol/ethanol) engine, which be built at Nissan’s Resende plant in Brazil. The engine should be mated to a standard 5-speed manual or an optional X-TRONIC continuously variable transmission. As of now, Nissan hasn’t revealed its plans to export the Kicks out of South America, but it is most likely to be launched in India next year with a diesel engine sourced from the Terrano/Duster.

 

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