Nissan Gets its Kicks in Brazil – New Compact Crossover Debuts in Rio

By Steve & Tamami Laser

There’s big news from Nissan in Brazil today with the all-new Kicks compact crossover making its global premiere. Nissan has big plans for the Kicks with sales slated to start first in Brazil this August, followed by Latin American left-hand drive markets later in 2016, and eventually introduced in more than 80 global markets.

How does it fit into Nissan’s global crossover lineup? We checked the specs and discovered that Kicks is larger than the Nissan Juke yet a bit smaller than the Qashqai. While there’s no official word regarding a North American launch, it seems like it would fit nicely between Juke and Rogue.

To meet initial Brazilian demand, Nissan says Kicks will be produced at its plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Ramp-up to full production is targeted to begin later in FY2016 at the Nissan facility in Resende, Rio de Janeiro, the site of a $192 million (R$750 million) investment to prepare for Kicks.

The production Nissan Kicks retains the basic design cues from the Kicks Concept first shown at the Sao Paulo Motor Show in 2014.

During the engineering development process for Kicks, Nissan says attention was paid to the crossover’s aerodynamics to benefit performance and help reduce wind noise.

Nissan do Brasil is an Official Sponsor of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In addition to backing the leading international sporting event, Nissan is sponsoring the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relay and the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Shifting our focus to the cabin, Nissan’s designers developed an upscale, sporty look.

Nissan says the Kicks’ interior promises “best-in-class” passenger space in the rear, despite the coupe-like roofline, as well as one of the largest load areas in its class.

Front seat occupants are treated to the latest version of Nissan’s centrally mounted seven-inch full-color display housing a comprehensive infotainment system with Smartphone connectivity.

Kicks will offer the Around View Monitor and Moving Object Detection, which uses four cameras to display an overhead view of the vehicle on the screen and to warn the driver of unseen hazards. We also admire the flat-bottom steering wheel that adds another sporty touch.