Tag Archives: Nissan

NEW CARS

Nissan Expands Electrified Lineup in China with New Plug-In Hybrid Sedan N6

Nissan continues to broaden its portfolio of electrified vehicles in the Chinese market with the introduction of a new plug-in hybrid sedan, the N6, set for local production by its joint venture partner Dongfeng. While at first glance the N6 might be mistaken for the brand’s all-electric N7 sedan, the two models serve distinct roles in Nissan’s electrification strategy.

The N6 is slightly smaller than the N7 and, crucially, features a plug-in hybrid powertrain rather than a fully electric setup. The N7 has already gained strong traction in China, enough to justify an international rollout planned for next year, but the N6 aims to appeal to buyers looking for a balance between electrification and the flexibility of a gasoline engine.

Though Nissan has yet to officially reveal the N6, recent filings with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology have shed light on its design and specifications. Sharing much of the N7’s modern design language, the N6 offers subtle but notable differences. The front end features a reshaped lower section of the split LED headlights, more closely integrating with Nissan’s signature V-Motion grille. From the side, the sedan boasts a sharper greenhouse profile and refined body lines, retaining flush door handles — a sleek detail commonly found in contemporary EV and hybrid vehicles.

The rear of the N6 distinguishes itself with simpler full-width LED taillights and a more conventional rear bumper that discreetly hides the exhaust pipe, marking a clear departure from the fully electric N7’s design cues. Both models will likely feature illuminated Nissan badges on the front and rear, underscoring their modern, tech-forward appeal.

Dimensionally, the N6 measures 4,831 mm in length, 1,885 mm wide, and 1,491 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,815 mm. This places it slightly smaller than the N7 — which boasts an additional 100 mm of wheelbase — but roughly in the same size category as the discontinued Nissan Maxima, a familiar nameplate for buyers seeking a midsize sedan.

While interior photos have yet to surface, the N6 is expected to share much of the N7’s minimalist and tech-rich cabin environment. That likely means a clean dashboard dominated by a 15.6-inch free-standing infotainment display, a large digital instrument cluster, wireless charging pads for smartphones, and a modern two-spoke steering wheel.

Under the hood, the N6 utilizes a 1.5-liter gasoline engine developed by Dongfeng, producing 95 hp (76 kW / 97 PS). This is paired with a single electric motor rated at 87 hp (65 kW / 88 PS), combining for a total system output of 208 hp (155 kW / 211 PS). In line with Nissan’s latest e-Power technology, it is expected that the electric motor drives the wheels directly, drawing energy from a lithium iron phosphate battery pack — though the exact battery capacity remains undisclosed.

The Nissan N6 is slated to debut in China later this year. With the N7 confirmed for international expansion (outside of North America), the N6 plug-in hybrid may also find its way to overseas markets. Regions such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and select European countries are potential candidates for the N6, aligning with Nissan’s global electrification ambitions.

Nissan’s dual approach with the N6 and N7 highlights the brand’s strategy to cater to diverse electrified vehicle preferences, balancing pure electric innovation with the pragmatic appeal of hybrid versatility.

Source: Nissan

NEW CARS

2026 Nissan Teana Brings Sharper Styling and New Powertrain to Chinese Market

While the Nissan Altima’s fate in North America remains up in the air, its Chinese-market twin, the Nissan Teana, is gearing up for a mid-cycle refresh that will keep it in showrooms for years to come. Built by Dongfeng Nissan, the updated Teana takes design inspiration from the brand’s newer electrified sedans, aiming to bring a more contemporary edge to the familiar midsize formula.

The first clear look at the facelifted model comes courtesy of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, whose regulatory filings reveal a bolder front fascia. Darker LED headlights now flank a wider grille with integrated daytime running lights and a new internal pattern, while the reshaped bumper gains a broader lower intake reminiscent of Nissan’s N6 and N7 sedans. The changes help align the Teana’s gasoline-powered styling with the company’s EV design language.

From the side, the silhouette is largely unchanged, though new alloy wheels and a two-tone paint option on select trims lend the sedan a fresher, more upscale presence. At the rear, a darkened full-width LED light bar with illuminated Nissan lettering mirrors the brand’s latest electrified models. The tailgate and bumper have been tidied up, and visible exhaust outlets are now gone entirely.

The facelift also brings a slight size increase, with overall length stretching by 14 mm (0.6 inches) to 4,920 mm (193.7 inches), while width, height, and the 2,825 mm (111.2-inch) wheelbase remain the same. Interior details are still under wraps, but a redesigned dashboard with a digital cockpit and updated tech features is expected.

Under the hood, the top-spec turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine returns with 240 hp (179 kW / 243 PS) sent to the front wheels via Nissan’s Xtronic CVT with eight simulated ratios. Interestingly, filings also reveal a new entry-level engine rated at 142 hp (106 kW / 144 PS), a step down from the current naturally aspirated 2.0-liter’s 154 hp (115 kW / 156 PS). The reasoning behind the drop in output hasn’t been clarified.

The refreshed Teana is set to reach Chinese dealers later this year, with pricing expected to remain close to the current ¥179,800–¥239,800 ($25,000–$33,400) range.

As for the Altima, which shares its bones with the Teana, the North American model last received a facelift in 2022. A second refresh could help extend its life under the current U.S. political climate, which has slowed the push toward electrification. However, lingering rumors suggest the Altima could be retired altogether. Whether Nissan opts to borrow design cues from the Chinese Teana or stick to a separate styling path remains to be seen.

Source: Nissan

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Nissan Plots Formula E-Infused Hot EV Prototypes for Future Nismo Models

Nissan is weighing up an ambitious plan to harness its Formula E expertise to shape the next era of high-performance electric vehicles – with potential prototypes set to lay the groundwork for future Nismo-badged road cars.

In an interview with Autocar, Tommaso Volpe, head of Nissan’s Formula E squad, confirmed that internal discussions are ongoing regarding a potential collaboration between the Paris-based race team and the company’s in-house performance division, Nismo. The goal? To fast-track development of EVs that don’t just go the distance – but do so with thrilling pace and precision.

“Nothing is agreed yet,” Volpe clarified, “but we are considering a proposal to develop prototypes based on standard road-going chassis. These would act as testbeds for Nismo, allowing them to enhance the performance characteristics of electric cars.”

Nissan’s current EV performance offering is limited to the Ariya Nismo, a mildly warmed-up version of its electric SUV. However, senior executives have hinted at much bigger ambitions. Nissan product planning boss Ivan Espinosa previously spoke of “exciting plans” for a future line-up of Nismo EVs, including as many as four or five halo models to spearhead the brand’s performance push.

The proposed tie-up with Formula E could serve as a turning point. Until now, technology transfer between road and race EVs has mostly flowed in one direction – with learnings from production models, like the Leaf, informing race car software development. But that paradigm is expected to shift with the arrival of Formula E’s Gen4 cars in the 2026/27 season.

The Gen4 machines will pack around 800bhp from dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrains – nearly doubling the 469bhp output of today’s racers. More critically, they’ll mirror the drivetrain configurations increasingly found in road EVs, such as the Ariya’s e-4ORCE AWD system.

“This is where we’ll see the real crossover,” Volpe explained. “The performance and efficiency thresholds in Gen4 will be pushed to the limit. With all-wheel drive becoming standard in both racing and consumer EVs, there’s a huge opportunity for us to influence future Nismo products directly.”

The idea is to develop prototype mules that utilise race-bred twin-motor technology and advanced traction control strategies. These testbeds would serve not only as validation platforms but also as inspiration for future production models – potentially unlocking new levels of grip, torque vectoring, and energy management for Nissan’s electrified performance line-up.

According to Volpe, the Gen4 regulations themselves were co-shaped with this kind of synergy in mind: “There was strong pressure from Nissan and other OEMs to make AWD standard. It aligns perfectly with where the EV market is heading.”

While it remains to be seen whether these prototype collaborations will get the official green light, the direction of travel is clear: Nissan wants to fuse its motorsport DNA with its EV future, and Nismo is poised to benefit from the trickle-down of Formula E’s most cutting-edge tech.

If the plans proceed, enthusiasts could soon see Formula E-inspired Nismo EVs that blend race-honed dynamics with road-ready practicality – and potentially reignite the brand’s performance legacy in a fully electric form.

Source: Autocar