It’s been a busy day for Nissan, but the
company has now dropped a veritable bombshell, teasing several models that are
coming soon. It’s a broad range that includes 12 cars, including the one we’ve
all been waiting for – the next Fairlady Z!
Tipped to be called the 400Z in
international markets, the new sports car marks the long-heralded renewal of
the Z brand, finally replacing the 370Z – a car nearly old enough to enter
secondary school. From the brief glimpse, it will retain the iconic fastback
profile and feature a Z badge (sporting the new logo) on the C-pillar, chrome
roof trim and circular daytime running lights that appear to hark back to the
seminal 240Z.
Details remain unclear for now, but the
car is expected to be powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 – perhaps related to
the VR38DETT 3.8 litre unit in the GT-R – which could put out up to 500 hp,
according to Autocar. This teaser also empathically puts to rest the rumours
that the next Fairlady might take the form of a crossover – this car will
definitely be a two-door sports coupé.
Other new models shown include the Ariya
electric SUV, the production version of a concept shown at last year’s Tokyo
Motor Show. Set to be available with a two-motor all-wheel drive system, it will
have a range of up to 480 km and get from zero to 100 km/h in under five
seconds.
Next on the list is the new Armada, the
North American version of the Patrol that was already updated last year. The
facelifted Kicks is another car we’ve already seen, having made its debut in
Thailand last month in e-Power form. One model that is new to us is the
long-awaited facelifted NP300 Navara, which looks set to gain the Patrol’s
C-shaped daytime running lights.
Its sibling, the Terra SUV, is also set to
get an update, sporting a new front fascia with a much larger V-motion grille.
The coming months should also see the arrival of the next-generation Note,
Nissan’s tall hatchback that debuted the company’s ePower range extender
electric vehicle technology. The third-gen model will almost certainly be based
on the latest Micra, riding on a modified version of the existing V platform.
Then we come to Nissan’s core pair of SUV
models – the X-Trail (called the Rogue in the United States, hence the R) and
Qashqai. Both these cars will soon be completely redesigned, and images of the
former have already leaked, showing a radical makeover. The Pathfinder, a
three-row unibody SUV formerly based on the Navara, will also get a new
generation.
We also get to see the new 2021 Frontier
for North America, entirely separate from the Navara sold elsewhere (the
previous-generation D40 Navara continues to be sold there, and this new one
will replace it). The pick-up truck will reportedly retain the D40 chassis, but
will be significantly overhauled and come with a new 310 hp 3.8 litre VQ V6 and
nine-speed automatic transmission that is already fitted to the 2020 Frontier.
Last but not least is what looks like a
new small crossover, which has no name attached but will apparently have a
moniker starting with the letter M. Judging by the shape of the grille seen in
the teaser, it will actually be a Datsun, and indeed reports suggest that a
Datsun Magnite will make its debut soon.
