Nissan is developing a new scalable EV architecture with a pair of crossovers a certainty, and a lifestyle ute a possibility.
Ponz Pandikuthira, chief planning officer for Nissan in the Americas, told Automotive News the upcoming platform will form the basis of up to five small and mid-size vehicles which will be built in company’s factory in Mississippi.
One of these could be a monocoque lifestyle ute designed to haul camping equipment, bikes, and other outdoor gear rather than a mountain of bricks.
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Nissan Surf Out concept
According to Mr Pandikuthira this car would target “environmentally conscious” people wanting an adventure vehicle. Although he was uncertain whether there would “100,000 of those willing to buy a Nissan electric truck” before concluding the “segment could grow, and we are keeping an eye on that”.
If the electric ute were to be given the green light, it would go on sale in the US from 2030, at the earliest. Nissan preview just such a vehicle in 2021 when it unveiled the Surf Out concept (pictured above and below).
Nissan currently only sells one pickup truck in the US and Canada, the Frontier. The latest iteration was launched in 2021, and features a new body, interior and V6 engine, but most of its underpinnings date back to the D22 Navara that made its debut back in 1997.
Initially the company was hoping to launch the new flexible EV architecture in 2026 with a set of sedans to replace the aging Altima and the now-discontinued Maxima. After studying the data, though, Nissan concluded a set of sedans starting at US$45,000 ($74,500) was “not what the market is asking for”.
So the company pressed reset on the project last year, and decide to focus on crossovers and high-riding sedans instead. The first of two electric crossovers — one each for Nissan and Infiniti — is due in the middle of 2028.
These two EV crossovers, along with a whole host of other vehicles, including the new Leaf, were previewed at the end of March.
The Nissan model seems to draw a lot of styling inspiration from the Xterra, a North American-market SUV sold between 1999 and 2015, and based on the contemporary Frontier/Navara.
While the first two generations of the Xterra were rugged body-on-frame models, it seems the follow up will have a car-like monocoque design. Although it will be dimensionally similar to the X-Trail/Rogue, it is expected to be as roomy as the larger Pathfinder.
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Unnamed Nissan electric crossover -
1995 Nissan Xterra
As for the sedans originally scheduled for 2026, Mr Pandikuthira says those plans are “up in the air” as “premium sedans are not our niche”.
With President Trump raising a tariff wall and igniting a trade war, it’s unclear if any of these models will be heading to Australia.
Even before tariff concerns, both Ford and Hyundai didn’t feel the need to engineer the car-based Maverick and Santa Cruz utes for right-hand drive.
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