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Datsun ready to return

The Datsun name could be about to return for the first time in nearly 30 years

Datsun XLink coupe

Text: Jack Carfrae / Photos: Benjamin Nawka

29th September 2011

Auto Express has learned that parent company Nissan is planning to extend its ownership of the rights to the Datsun name – and the plans include an all-new logo.

The firm was rebranded as Nissan in the Eighties, and was most famous for small sports cars such as the Seventies 240Z and the Sunny hatchback.

If Datsun makes a return, it’s likely to be a sub-brand for Nissan that aims to produce economical and affordable cars. Nissan’s sister company, Renault, already has such a subsidiary in Dacia, so it’s possible that the new Datsuns could simply be rebadged Dacias.

It’s unlikely that the cars would be sold in the UK, at least initially, as Nissan believes they would be better suited to developing overseas markets.

The new machines will most likely be launched as part of the ‘Power88’ plan, which will see the car maker release a new model every six weeks for the next six years.

A spokesperson for Nissan said: “We are looking at various brands and the option to acquire various brands for use in the future, should we want to. We need to make sure that we own the Datsun name. If we were to use it, Datsun would most likely be a brand for large, developing markets such as Russia and China.”

Datsun hasn’t been resting – Nissan designers have been working on concept cars to keep the brand alive, producing the four-seat XLink diesel hybrid sports coupe. This was developed at Nissan Yulon Design Center by Pforzheim University student Benjamin Nawka in 2008.

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6 Comments

Well I don't which is better.

Well I don't know which is Better. Nissan or Datsun I should Datsun better.

By deviras on 30 September, 2011, 11:34am

Just what the world needs...

NEW SUNNY!

By Dangerous_Dave on 30 September, 2011, 1:04pm

Funny, I never did stop calling them "Datsuns", I even think of and refer to Infinity as Datsuns.

By twistydriver on 30 September, 2011, 7:34pm

China already has a low cost Nissan brand

Nissan already has a low cost brand in China with their Dongfeng partner. It's called Venucia

www.markeaandrews.com

By China_Mark on 2 October, 2011, 10:28am

Datsun

Does that mean that it'll be possible to buy something from a Nissan dealer that isn't an SUV or a Micra?

Sunny was dull but reliable, bring back the Bluebird and Laurel!

By SirWiggum2 on 3 October, 2011, 1:40pm

Datsun

Does this mean return of the Prarie and the Stanza?!

By cousins11 on 3 October, 2011, 3:27pm

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Pictures

Datsun XLink coupe
Datsun

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