Nissan Kicks compact SUV revealed in public

Nissan Motor Company Ltd. had recently released a teaser image of the Kicks compact SUV. The company followed it up by revealing the SUV without any disguise in Rio de Janeiro, prior to its official debut on May 3, 2016. The vehicle will also be the official car for the 2016 Olympics that are to be held in the country. The Kicks compact SUV has been built on the V-platform which under pins the Micra hatchback and Sunny sedan sold in India.

The concept of the Nissan Kicks was first showcased at the 2014 Sao Paulo Auto Show in Brazil. The production spec that is seen in the images is unquestionably similar to the concept vehicle. There are only a few subtle changes that can be observed on the production model.

The compact SUV has an aggressive stance with a trapezoidal grille flanked by wrap-around headlamp units. The headlamps have a slight bulge on the upper side while the grille has a thick U-shaped chrome strip that gives it a bold look. The pillars of the compact SUV have been blacked out to give the illusion of a floating roof design. The roof has been painted in orange finish to contrast the grey body colour. The flared arches with good ground clearance and big alloy wheels further accentuates the look of the Nissan Kicks. 

Unfortunately, the company has been tight lipped regarding the interiors and powertrain details of the compact SUV. These details will be disclosed during the official debut of the vehicle. We expect the Nissan Kicks to be powered with a 1.6-litre flex fuel (petrol/ethanol) engine for the international market. The engine will come mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and also have a CVT variant.

The production of the Kicks compact SUV is reportedly expected to start from the second half of this year, followed by its launch initially in the South American market. If launched in India, the Nissan Kicks will come with a diesel powerplant. It will replace the Nissan Terrano and compete against the popular Hyundai Creta and the Renault Duster in the compact SUV market.