Datsun to be reborn 07 | 05 | 2013

THE DATSUN BRAND is to be revived by Nissan, with the first model scheduled to be a five-door hatchback priced at just £3500.

But don't get too excited: the budget brand, which will target India, Indonesia and Russia, will not be common to the UK.

The new hatch is expected to be unveiled by Renault-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn in July. And the car, which will be powered by a three-cylinder 1.2-litre engine lifted from the Micra, will not have a diesel variant.

Initial reports suggest the car, codenamed K2, will be almost as spacious as a Micra: and, because the Datsun will be much lighter, the new hatch will also have class-leading fuel economy.

It's also expected that the new Datsun will share platform elements of the both the previous and current-generation Micra.

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Jim McGill