Nissan confirms production for Kicks crossover

To be launched in South American markets initially, Nissan plans to offer the new crossover to more than 80 countries, but Australian availability has not been confirmed.

 

The Kicks will get a global boost this August when it serves as the official car for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic and Paralympic Games (the Kicks is already leading the Olympic torch relay through Brazil).

 

Powertrain choices will cover a range of petrol and diesel engines, both turbo and naturally-aspirated, with a DCT transmission as standard.

 

For the Brazilian market, the initial engine choice is a 1.6-litre flex-fuel 4-cylinder engine, designed to run on petrol and ethanol, the latter of which is a common fuel option in South America.

 

Front-wheel drive will be standard, with AWD offered as an option in selected markets.

 

At 4295mm x 1760mm x 1590mm (LxWxH) and rolling on a 2610mm wheelbase, the Kicks is larger than Nissan's Juke, and only marginally smaller than the Qashqai.

 

The coupe-like styling of the production model differs little from the concept, featuring Nissan's V-motion grille, boomerang head and taillights, and a floating roof with a "wrap-around visor" look to the windscreen and side glass.

 

Nissan says that, despite the coupé-like roofline, the Kicks will offer best-in-class rear seat space, as well as one of the largest load areas in its class.

 

Inside, the cabin is full of the sort of innovative features expected by the tech-savvy younger target market this vehicle is aimed at.

 

Up front, Nissan's Gliding Wing dashboard design is dominated by a centrally mounted seven-inch full colour display housing a comprehensive infotainment system with Smartphone connectivity.

 

Among other technologies, the Kicks will feature a segment-first Around View Monitor and Moving Object Detection.