Fresh from previewing a range of new models, Nissan is heading to the Beijing Motor Show this week with two concepts – one of which is a very tough looking off-roader.
For now, the Japanese automaker has released a single dodgy teaser of the concept duo, which appears to follow general SUV design trends in the Chinese market – one is boxy, rugged and sturdy, the other is sleeker and more car-like.
The off-roader appears to feature flared wheel arches, thick off-road tires and interesting lighting such as small cube-shaped pods on the front fenders and matching amber lights above the windshield.
The other concept, however, features C-shaped LED daytime running lights similar to those on the latest Leaf and the revised Ariya.
They are displayed next to the new NX8 developed by the Dongfeng Nissan joint venture, which could come to Australia in 2027.
This year’s Beijing Motor Show will take place from this Friday (April 24) to May 3.
The off-roader concept is different from the revived Xterra that Nissan announced last week, which will be built in the US and is expected to feature gasoline V6 and hybrid powertrains.
It’s unclear what will power this Chinese off-roader concept, but given the market it’s debuting in, we’d expect some form of electrification.
There could be a preview of a prospective SUV sibling to the Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid dual-cab model, which is also expected to be available in Australia.
The design strongly suggests off-road capability. Nissan’s partner Dongfeng is no stranger to robust off-roaders and offers a range of them under the M-Hero brand.
The other concept could be a sister model to the NX8 two-row large SUV, offered as either an electric vehicle (EV) or an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV).
Dongfeng Nissan already offers two similarly sized sedans – the plug-in hybrid N6 and the electric N7 – so this concept could foreshadow a slightly smaller NX8 sibling, possibly with plug-in hybrid power.
“In line with its strategic commitment of ‘In China, for China, Global’, Nissan has established a dual role for its three key markets, including China, as part of its overall global market strategy: they are both pillars of performance and core engines that drive global competitiveness and industrial capabilities,” the company said in its press release.
“This dual positioning in the Chinese market allows the company to both contribute to the growth of the domestic market and strengthen Nissan’s global product range.”
In fact, Nissan is expected to enter the market At least two vehicles in Australia come from its Chinese joint venture: NX8 and Frontier Pro. The N7 mid-sized electric sedan could also come to Australia.
Even though Chinese brands are getting stronger, Nissan had the sixth best-selling model in China last year, the Sylphy sedan.
It offers a wide range of vehicles in China, including the Qashqai and X-Trail sold here – both current and previous generations of the two SUVs. There’s also the Ariya; a redesigned version of the Pathfinder; the Teana (also known as Altima); and even the latest generation Pulsar sold here serves as a price guide for the range.
Nissan also offers the premium Infiniti brand in China – although only with two models – as well as the more cost-conscious Venucia brand with a range of sedans and SUVs.
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