Rio reveal for Nissan's CX-3 challenger

Nissan Australia’s management team won’t just be paying attention to the Rio Olympics later this year to see how our athletes perform, but also to pick up some intelligence on a potential winner of their own, the Kicks small SUV.

Unveiled so far only in concept form (pictured) but confirmed by Nissan to have a global future, the compact crossover rival for the Mazda CX-3 is the subject of a teaser campaign in Brazil and is expected to bow in final production form at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.

The link is that the Kicks will be manufactured in Brazil from later this year.

Nissan Australia managing director Richard Emery told motoring.com.au the local arm had indicated its interest in the Kicks, but details were needed before a commitment was made.

“It’s not confirmed but we have our hand up for it,” Emery said.

“My understanding is there will be more information around the Kicks come the Rio games, because Nissan will have a role to play there.

“So we should know more about it then.”

If it does get the green light, then an on-sale date in Australia no sooner than 2018 is likely. But Emery stressed such a decision was still some time away.

“That car’s core market is in South America and other developing markets, so there is always going to be some concern in terms of the basis for that car; what its specification will be, will it be five-star ANCAP safety and all those sorts of things,” Emery explained.

“But from a purely size perspective and as a crossover vehicle, it certainly would suit our marketplace going forward and if it is going to be produced in terms of [locally suitable] specification, safety level, engine and things like that then we would be interested in it.

“But until we have a clearer picture of how much suitability it would have for Australia it’s too early to tell.”

Emery revealed he had seen a preview of the prototype production vehicle that moves on from the concept revealed at the Sao Paulo motor show in Brazil in 2014 (pictured).

“It was the next iteration along from the concept, which is getting close to the production car,” he said. “If I was to align that against what we have in the marketplace right now, then against the likes of the CX-3 and Honda HR-V is where it would potentially fit.”

The Kicks would become the entry-point in to Nissan’s strong SUV line-up that already includes the $23,490-plus JUKE, as well as the QASHQAI, X-TRAIL, Pathfinder and Patrol.

It would enter a segment of the market that is continuing to grow quickly, with sales up 8.5 per cent per cent year-on-year.

Meanwhile, Emery revealed a full-size diesel wagon, which would serve as a replacement for the old Y61 Patrol, remains a work in progress.

The Y61 will be killed off later this year because of the introduction of Euro 5 emissions requirements in November.

A seven-seat wagon version of the Navara utility is the best chance of a replacement for the Patrol, and would give Nissan a direct rival to full-size off-road SUVs like the Toyota Prado and Fortuner, Ford Everest, Holden Colorado 7, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Isuzu MU-X.

“Although there is no formal decision yet, obviously Nissan has been looking and we have said a wagon derivative of Navara would be of interest to us,” Emery confirmed.

“Having said that, there’s got to be enough markets around the world saying the same thing to get such a project off the ground, and at this time there is no formal project to proceed with that sort of vehicle.”