A seismic change is coming to Nissan Australia’s model range in the years ahead.
But you guess it is the majority of the new metal we’ll see coming from China, in large part because Nissan has a decades-long relationship with Dongfeng.
This is the new NX8 electric SUV — possibly the n7-electric car (Navara Pro), Frontier Pro (or will it be Navarata pro?) plug-in hybrid dual-cab ute, and maybe a spin-off electrified large SUV.
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That’s in addition to the just-revealed 2027 X-Trail e-Power, while the door isn’t as firmly shut on the striking new Juke electric SUV as first thought, either.
Yokohama this week, Richard Candler — Nissan corporate executive for family and product/component strategy — revealed much of this in the company’s home town.
Speaking to Aussie news outlets including childcareman.xyz, Mr Candler said ‘I was shocked at how few Nissans I saw on a recent trip Down Under.
Nissan NX8
I didn’t really know why we’re not stronger, he said. I sort of felt like we could do more in Australia,’ . My ambition now is to see what we can do for Australia a bit stronger [It’s] my goal, ‘I want it’. Paraphrasingr ’It is.
“I think one of the questions should be how many cars do we need for Australia? We already have quite a big lineup,” he said, though the Juke small SUV and Pathfinder large three-row SUV have both recently been discontinued.
I know we’re doing a bit of restructuring right now, but what is the balance between number of cars and size of market? This is also something we always have to keep in mind.
We can offer 15 cars, 20 cars but we have to get the number of cars because otherwise it is very hard to invest.’ He added further highlighting the challenges that Australian Government emissions regulations (the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) are facing for Australia’s brand.
Enter models like the Nissan NX8, co-developed with Dongfeng, and available as either an electric vehicle (EV) or extended-range electric vehicle (EREV).
The large five-seat SUV is expected to hit our shores by the end of 2027, if confirmed.
Mr Candler said ‘I think there is a lot of potential for NX8, I’m sure. And, for sure, this is one of the most important cars we will take on a broad global axis. And now we’re talking to the teams about what that is like for us. – ’.
A. Nissan may also add an electric sedan – the N7 – to its mix, which is basically filling up a gap left in the company’s range for 10 years since the Altima finished down in 2017 with ‘Altiman and I am very interested in this area of business history as well as being part of the family line that has been under fire by Q4 last year at least one decade ago (the first time around 2016).
It’s bigger than a Tesla Model 3, more like a rival to the newly added Mazda 6e, which starts at just under $50,000 before on-roads and has 560km of WLTP range. Like the N7, the Mazda was also developed with a Chinese joint venture partner.
Nissan N7
And he said ‘It’s really what we have confirmed was the N7 and the Frontier Pro, we’ve also confirmed that there are some markets for both of those products, they’re the front-runners. Then, just after those cars and that car will be a short time later, there will also be an NX8. That’s a new phrase that hasn’t really got to that point yet because it’s so fresh.
The good news is that China moves fast,’ said . Now that we’ve completed the business case, I think it is a very quick thing to bring these things. – ’.
The Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid pick-up truck is larger than a Navara but would probably sit with it, possibly wearing the Na Vara Pro badge.
Nissan Frontier Pro
“In the case of the sort of Frontier Pro/Navara Pro type product, right-hand drive is one thing that we need to work through,” said Mr Candler, though it appears its local launch is inevitable as it was already previewed to Australian dealers late last year.
This is likely to be powertrainr’s second, a phrase that has said. But Australia needs for powertrain are a bit more serious,’ said Mr McDonnell. ‘We need good towing, we need off-road capability, those. We have to look at that product and this is something we should look for, so as to ensure it’s a good product. Paraphrasingr ’It is.
That lesson has already been learned by BYD, which – while selling the Shark 6 in big numbers for lifestyle ute buyers – was widely criticised by reviewers for having less off-road and towing capability than key rivals. But, as Mr Candler said, China moves fast, and there’s now a more powerful Shark 6 Performance with more grunt and bigger towing capacity.
Meanwhile, the Nissan PHEV ute will likely spin off a large SUV, as Mr Candler stated, which may also form a mid-way point between the X-Trail and Patrol models in the local range – effectively sitting where the Pathfinder was, but with a much better emissions figure and a more approachable price.
He added ‘It’s a fitting fit that’d be designed in from the base of the SUV, on the vehicle. That’s sort of a product we got to that and it’s kind of an individual for us (mainly export-oriented) product. It’s a good chance for to get it. And so just give me a few months.
I have already tested these cars in Australia, and made suggestions for tuning. But, of course, what’s good for China is not necessarily transferable directly to the .
Nissan Juke EV
I’m saying ‘We know what it takes for Australia, the team knows very well and they’re driving these cars in Australia and we understand what would be required.
Earlier in the week, Nissan demonstrated the origami-inspired Juke small EV and it was repeatedly stated that it is a European-focused model but Mr Candler said the door doesn’t ‘firmly shut down’ on the new Jukes for Australia.
Europe is still trying to hold on to its industry,’ said the . structurally and that pushes us in some ways, as well as a part of that pushing for the . But I’m not saying we wouldn’t bring Juke,’ he said. We could certainly talk about it,’ . send the phraser around, before sending it overseas to Australian dollars. But nowadays, that is quite the complexities. , ” and.
Nissan Kicks
And if the Juke isn’t it, what else could Nissan slot in under the Qashqai as the brand’s entry-level SUV? The Kicks, of course.
e-Power hybrid tech, it’s available in right-hand drive and with its less polarising design could be favourable for our market.
I think we’re doing a bit of restructuring for the portfolio, which is going to be Australia’s next stage.’ said ‘I think that’d say it was just an idea in our mind when coming out with this statement. I think Kicks could be a good option for sure, as per . I’m looking at it,’ he said in an interview with the .
Nissan Patrol (Y63)
In a world-wide location, Mr Candler added Nissan makes ‘a few different Kicks models in various locations and countries’ which could help justify it as an option for our market place to buy them.
Along with the upcoming new models for Nissan’s local lineup, the brand will also launch its long-awaited Y63 Patrol in the next 12 months.
However, it has scuttled plans to bring the third-generation Leaf here, despite having previously confirmed it.
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