Nissan Announces The Kicks Crossover is Heading to Production

Nissan Kicks Concept (Credit: © Nissan)

Lately, Nissan has been revealing some pretty sweet concepts, ranging from its relatively toned-down Kicks to the wild and crazy Gripz. Today, Nissan announced that it has given the green light to a production version of the Kicks crossover.

The details remain limited on this concept turned production model, but the concept vehicle gives us plenty to look at. Given the somewhat toned-down look of the Kicks Concept, I would be shocked if the majority of its design doesn’t make it into the production vehicle. The V-Motion grille, headlights, chiseled body, and swooping roofline are all pretty familiar bits in the Nissan lineup. The only places I see change happening on the body are its door handles, rocker panel design, and the wheels.

Nissan Kicks (Credit: © Nissan)

What will power the Kicks remains unknown, but I would expect to see something similar to the Juke’s small-displacement turbocharged engine. Look for a continuously variable transmission to deliver power to the front wheels as standard or all four wheels as an option. Like its slightly shorter sibling, the Juke, the production version of the Kicks will likely not be nearly as fast as it looks.

As for the availability of the Nissan Kicks, the automaker claims it will arrive in the Latin American market in 2016. Following a successful launch in Latin America, the automaker plans to launch the model globally.

I am not too certain if its global launch will include the U.S., but one would think it has to, given our obsession with crossovers. If it does arrive here, I am wondering how well it would sell being positioned in the tight niche between the current Juke and Rogue.

We should get all of the answers to our questions in the coming months, so keep it locked here for the latest details.