The launch of the Datsun Go in India represents the first new car from the brand in 18 years and a new direction for its founding company which celebrates its centenary in 2014.

And on March 19, a number of special events have been organized in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata to celebrate the first 21st century Datsun customers collecting the keys to their new cars.

A brand associated with quality and affordability, Datsun set the template for the Japanese car makers that followed in its wake that hoped to break into the European and American automotive markets.

And between 1958 and 1986, when parent company Nissan decided to mothball the badge, Datsun was responsible for one or two truly iconic cars, not least the 240Z — a fantastic, now highly collectible, two-seater sports coupé that was so good when it launched in 1969 that it gave European and US car makers a huge wake-up call.

Nearly 20 years on, Nissan has decided to revive Datsun and position it as a company focused on sustainable motoring and one that targets emerging automate markets. As such, as well as India, the first new Datsun, the Go, plus others like it, will also be launching later this year in Indonesia, Russia and South Africa.

The Datsun Go is a five-door supermini and will be powered by a 1.2-liter engine. And although a very basic automotive proposition, it does boast a smartphone/mp3 player docking station as standard.

Although the company is yet to confirm exact retail pricing, it has promised that the car will cost less than 400,000 Indian rupees and will offer extremely competitive ownership costs once on the road.

Datsun is also prepping a Go+ model which will offer two additional occasional seats in the back and more luggage space but that will also be powered by the same 1.2-liter engine.