Finally the future is looking brighter for Infiniti (courtesy of a big new gasoline SUV rather than EVs), while by contrast Nissan has many challenges in major markets.
Infiniti
Are the toughest of times finally behind Nissan’s luxury brand? Starved of fresh models, at long last things are changing. The ancient, slow-selling Q50 has just been axed – it was the sole remaining car – and the QX80, an XL-sized ladder frame 4×4, is fresh for the USA’s 2025 model year.
The big Infiniti replaces a fourteen years young and still fairly competitive model with the same name. The new Y63 series Nissan Patrol (North America’s 2025 Armada), is the twin of the 2025 QX80. Same biturbo 3.5-litre V6, but only 317 kW and 700 Nm (425 HP) compared to 336 kW (450 HP) for the Infiniti. In both cases this is more power than the now discontinued 5.6-litre V8 of the old models.
Surprisingly, there is neither a hybrid nor a PHEV, never mind an EV option. At least one of those should be added in a few years‘ time. The Patrol is also offered with a 236 kW (317 HP) and 386 Nm 3.8-litre atmo V6 (the Armada is not though). The life cycle will probably be a long one with two facelifts: for the 2030 and 2033 model years and a successor in CY2033 or 2034. Strangely, the new Nissan will not arrive in certain right-hand drive countries until 2027. It hits the US market towards the end of 2024.
Also new for MY25 is an updated QX60. This generation, which debuted in 2021 for 2022MY, now loses its V6 engine. Stepping in as a replacement is the 268 hp and 286 lb-ft 2.0-litre turbo from the QX50 and QX55. That means a little less power but more torque. There is a nine speed automatic gearbox plus FWD and AWD choices.
Coming for the 2026 model year is another additional model, the FWD-AWD QX65. In addition to this SUV-coupe, a facelift for the QX60 can be expected.
A pair of EV SUVs and a fastback EV?
After the QX65 in 2025, there should be two electric SUVs called potentially ’QX70e’ and ‘QX50e’, plus one sedan or hatchback, the so-called ‘Q70e’.
The new large fastback will be manufactured at the Canton plant. Reports indicate that series production has been delayed until April 2027. Even though by then the Vision Qe (see image) will be some years old, the looks should be not too dissimilar to this concept from October 2023.
Perhaps coming six to twelve months later and also to be built in the same Mississippi factory, we should see a QX70e. A potential preview of this electric SUV also debuted – as the Vision QXe concept – at the same October 2023 event in Tokyo. And as for the smaller SUV, a successor for the QX50, timing is less certain – it could even appear in 2026.
What is really needed for dealers is a smaller hybrid SUV in the style of the Lexus NX or UX. Nissan is believed to be developing just such a vehicle, with the name expected to be QX40. Sources claim it is presently being engineered alongside the next X-Trail/Rogue. Which would mean a launch in 2027 or 2028.
Coming for the 2029 or 2030 model year will be yet one more EV, a QX60e. As the QX60 dates to CY2021, this once brisk seller will be due for replacement by 2028.
Nissan
Battling to keep its sales and profits rising in the US and China, Nissan had a terrible April to July first quarter of its new financial year. Those markets make up slightly more than half of its global sales, followed to a smaller extent by Japan. The company has just slashed an earlier operating profit for fiscal 2024-25 by 17 per cent (to JPY500bn) and lowered its annual sales target by 50,000 vehicles to 3,650,000.
New models will be a major factor in turning things around, the Yokohama-based OEM believes. Many are the cars, SUVs and minivans/MPVs which are due or overdue for replacement. Some of these will now be part of recently announced partnerships with Mitsubishi Motors and Honda Motor, plus of course the ongoing ties to Renault Group.
Already, fresh products are appearing, with a new Versa on sale in North America. The small sedan should help Nissan keep its long-running title as the number one brand in Mexico while this is now the only sub-$20,000 car in the US market. At the other end of the size range in this region, the Titan pick-up truck has just been axed after a long production run. There is no successor.
It is further believed that US production of the Versa and Altima will be wound up in 2025. The second of these cars could however be reinvented as a gasoline-electric model just as its rival the Toyota Camry has been (now hybrid-only in the USA).
The Kicks is another debutante for the 2025 model year. Available in FWD and for the first time AWD forms, the 4,365 mm long SUV also has more power and torque compared to the 1.6-litre engine in the previous Kicks. The platform is believed to be the ancient Mitsubishi Motors GS, the model sharing its roof and doors with the Mitsubishi XForce. Previously there were several global Nissans called Kicks but now these are to be pared down to one for all relevant markets. A facelift is inked in for 2028 and a replacement in 2031/2032.
Finally, a new Murano
Later in 2024, there should be a new generation Murano at last. The V6 will almost certainly be replaced by a four-cylinder turbo. And the platform? A major update of the Nissan D architecture, so again, front- and all-wheel drive and no electrification.
Coming just weeks after the debut of the 20-23, the Hyper Force, Hyper Urban, Hyper Punk, Hyper Tourer and Hyper Adventure concepts were revealed either in the metal or digitally at the Japan Mobility Show. The first of those may even have heralded a late 2020s successor for the GT-R. Nissan claimed it had an ASSB (‘All Solid State Battery’) and potentially 1,000 kW.
China, where Nissan for some time not only had the best selling passenger vehicle but was a more successful brand than Toyota, is suddenly a country where all Japanese OEMs are in trouble. The price war is being tackled head-on but slashing stickers risks destroying resale values, as Tesla keeps finding out not just in the PRC but everywhere. What can Nissan do? Its best bet is new product.
Dongfeng, one JV partner, is preparing a raft of new electric and electrified models. Quite a few were strongly hinted at by the Era (PHEV SUV), Evo (PHEV sedan), Epoch (electric sedan) and Epic (electric SUV) concepts which debuted at the Beijing motor show in April.
Electric exports from India
Another way to improve margins is to give certain older vehicles a second life via price cuts and a facelift as their successors go on sale. This will happen later in 2024 with the Dongfeng Nissan Qashqai, which also gains a Classic suffix to help set it apart from the new generation Qashqai.
By no means a big market for Nissan, India is nonetheless rising in importance for the Japanese marque. Soon there will be a facelift for the Magnite and, for the first time, left-hand drive production for export markets.
After this the Chennai plant will gain a small MPV in 2025 or 2026, the platform being an evolution of that which forms the basis of the Renault Triber. This factory will gain two further Renault Group vehicles in 2025 and 2026, these being a Dacia/Renault Duster-based SUV and a larger one based on the yet to be launched Dacia Bigster. Then in 2027 an Alliance A segment architecture EV is set to debut and Nissan may export this small car or crossover to Europe.
Skyline dies, Leaf lives
If North America’s long-running Titan had become a shadow of itself in terms of sales these last years, then an even older model name will soon be vanishing from Japan: Skyline production is to end in October. The name will return later in the 2020s on a new Ariya-based electric coupe-SUV. This model will have an Infiniti equivalent too.
One pioneering EV is the Leaf, and unlike the Skyline, this name lives on. A new generation premieres by year-end and the body changes from hatchback to crossover. The Washington plant – official name Sunderland – in the northeast of England starts build in March 2025. It is be joined by other global locations from the second half of next year. It is believed that the model will resemble the Chill-Out concept from 2021.
Along with eventual next generation Juke and Qashqai EVs, there are quite a few other electric Nissans working their way through the future models pipeline. These include a new Micra, as previewed by the 20-23 concept in September 2023. Thanks to huge round headlights & tail lights, this UK-designed hatchback should stand out in the European B segment.
Project PZ1L plus a new P20 platform pick-up
Back in North America, as there is no confirmation as yet on where the next Rogue will be made; it might instead be an import. However, the Canton plant in Mississippi will be manufacturing an electric crossover of about the same size from 2027 or 2028. The code for this vehicle is PZ1L. It might be the case that in North America at least, the next Rogue goes HEV, PHEV and possibly EV.
Canton, which loses a lot of production during the next 24 months, is to gain two other electric Nissan SUVs in the second half of the decade. This whilst also maintaining build of the Frontier until 2029.
Alliance partner Mitsubishi Motors also has a role to play when it comes to next generation Nissans for North America. One such model will be a pick-up (for both brands), part of a JV project based in Mexico.
Some reports indicate the next Frontier will be electric and made on the same line at Canton as the E-SUVs. Other sources instead state that a time frame of 2029 or 2030 will be when an electrified Frontier will be launched out of Mexico. There will be a Mitsubishi version of this truck too. Both should offer a common PHEV powertrain along with a pure gasoline engine alternative.
Finally, news of one other pick-up, a special model for China-only, at least for now. The Yuanye Z9 will be big for its segment (5,520 mm) with a 3,300 mm wheelbase. The petrol engine choices are to be a 2.0-litre with either 182 kW or 190 kW, a 140 kW 3.0-litre V6 diesel being the alternative. Zhengzhou-Nissan should reveal the new model later in 2024, adding a PHEV in 2025.
Source from Just Auto
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