Nissan floats Xterra revival… and others

NISSAN of North America says it will deliver up to 20 new and updated vehicle models by 2028, including a new-generation Rogue, Sentra, Infiniti Q50 sedan, and a pair of mid-sized utility vehicles, one of which will be a reincarnated Xterra four-wheel drive.

Speaking at a Las Vegas dealer conference attended by Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa, Nissan Americas chairman Christian Meunier said, “We are laser-focused on product (and) we are just getting started. We have done a better job of planning, making sure the right cars are in the right place”.

The product expansion is skewed toward North American market favourites, with Mr Meunier telling dealers they will get a rugged, affordable midsize SUV to sell in 2028.

It will be badged the Xterra, a short-lived nameplate that has form in North America and elsewhere.

The new iteration is understood to feature a blockish design with an upright grille, squared headlights, and two rows of seating, and is expected to ride on a new body-on-frame platform designed to support up to five other models, including the new Frontier ute.

GoAuto understands the Pathfinder, Infiniti QX60 and QX65 could also switch onto the new platform in their next generation.

Sources close to Nissan of North America say the Xterra is expected to be powered by a hybridised V6 petrol engine, potentially with plugin hybrid capability offering up to 120km of all electric range.

It will be manufactured at Nissan’s Canton plant in Missouri that assembles the Frontier ute and is expected to go toe-to-toe with rivals including the Ford Bronco, Toyota LandCruiser Prado, and Jeep Wrangler.

North American dealers were also shown a preview of the fourth-generation Rogue, a strong-selling medium segment SUV comparable to the locally available X-Trail.

Mr Meunier described the model as a “bread and butter” offering for the manufacturer, saying the new model is expected to offer more muscular looks, an improved version of Nissan’s e-Power hybrid driveline, V-shaped honeycomb grille, and an LED lightbar spanning the width of the tailgate.

While the model influx won’t immediately address Nissan’s financial predicament, it is labelled as a “pivotal moment for the company” that seeks to remedy its aging line-up, while at the same time increasing through-put at the firm’s underutilised North American plants.

“We are at a pivotal moment for this company,” said Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa.

“We are acting fast to address our weaknesses and strengthen our business fundamentals. I am confident we know what needs to be done to turn things around.”