New Datsun Go Hatchback to Get Airbags, ABS

Japanese car maker Nissan has reportedly decided to incorporate safety features like ABS and airbags in its Datsun Go hatchback in India after the model failed the crash test.

An Economic Times report, citing sources familiar with the issue, revealed that the new models of Go will come with safety features and the company will also be using high tensile steel which can withstand higher pressure.

Nissan was on the backfoot when Datsun Go had scored zero in a crash test conducted by Global NCAP last November.

Global NCAP, which put India's Nissan Datsun Go and Maruti Swift through the safety test, had even written to the chairman and CEO of Nissan India, Carlos Ghosn, asking the brand to pull the car from the markets as it did not meet the safety standards.

Datsun Go, the low cost offering from Nissan not only failed the crash test, but the car's body also disintegrated severely during the test, which would cause severe head and torso injuries to the driver and passengers. The Global Safety body also pointed out that Datsun Go is also unfit to accommodate airbags as the car's body shell structure is poor.

Now it looks like Nissan is planning to address the safety issues by offering the new features. The reports also added that Nissan is also likely to send the new Go hatchback for the crash test.

Datsun Go - which measures 3,785mm in length, 1,635mm in width, 1,485mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,450mm - is offered with 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine in India, and the car claims to deliver a fuel efficiency of 20.6kmpl.