Russia - Not-for-India Datsun mi-DO hatchback spied without camouflage

The Datsun mi-DO hatchback which is slated to be unveiled at the Moscow Automobile Salon in August has been spied without any camouflage for the first time. The car appears to have been spotted at a factory shop floor suggesting that the trial production has already started.

The mi-DO will be Datsun Russia's second product, following the on-DO sedan which is set to go on sale soon at a starting price of R329,000 (around INR 5.54 lakhs). While the on-DO sedan is based on the Lada Granta platform, the mi-DO is nothing but a rebadged Lada Kalina.

The spyshots show that while the upcoming hatchback retains Datsun's identity, the headlamps and bumper are different from those of the on-DO sedan. On the rear, the mi-DO differs from the Kalina in the location of the license plate holder which is shifted from the hatch door to the revised bumper. The rear combination lamps of the Datsun hatchback get clear lens treatment.

The Datsun mi-DO is expected to be powered by the same 1.6-litre 87 PS (85.3 bhp) petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox that also powers the on-DO. The car will be made at AvtoVAZ's Tolyatti plant which also caters to the on-DO, Lada Granta and Kalina.

Datsun's third product for Russia would be a crossover based on the mi-Do hatchback. None of these products would be marketed elsewhere, which rules them out for India.

Competitor: Lada Kalina

Expected Price: Less than R400,000

[Spy images from Carobka.ru]