Tag Archives: 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

NEW CARS

Sixth-Gen Nissan Micra Launches in September, Starting at £22,995

The Nissan Micra, once known as the charming but unassuming city car, is turning a radical new page. The sixth-generation Micra, revealed ahead of its September on-sale date, emerges as a bold and fully electric supermini—with a striking design and competitive pricing to match its Renault 5 twin.

Starting from £22,995, the new Micra is Nissan’s latest salvo in its effort to reinvent itself in the European market. Sharing its platform and drivetrain with the Renault 5 EV, the Micra is available exclusively as an electric vehicle for the first time in its 42-year history, marking the end of the combustion-powered Micra era.

A Radical Redesign

While the new Micra shares underpinnings with the Renault 5, Nissan designers were given free rein to ensure the car retains a unique identity. “We had to fight for it,” said exterior design manager Yongwook Cho, referencing the effort to distance the Micra visually from its French sibling.

The result is a head-turning design that blends retro cues from the bulbous third-gen Micra with futuristic flourishes. The circular daytime running lights and exaggerated arches give it a playful but assertive personality. A higher, more muscular bonnet provides a hint of crossover appeal, while the rear lip spoiler and shoulder line—described by designers as “scooped by a gelato spoon”—add flair and distinction.

“This is a grandma car no more,” said Cho confidently. Mission accomplished.

Electric-Only Line-Up with Competitive Range

Two battery options are available: a 40kWh pack good for up to 198 miles, and a larger 52kWh unit offering a more generous 260-mile range. Both power a single front-mounted motor, with outputs of 121bhp and 148bhp respectively.

Pricing starts with the Engage trim at £22,995, which includes 18-inch alloys, a 10-inch touchscreen, and a heat pump. Move up to the Advanced trim (£24,995 with the smaller battery or £26,995 with the 52kWh pack), and buyers gain Google-integrated infotainment, wireless phone charging, and parking sensors.

The top-spec Evolve trim—available only with the larger battery—tops the range at £29,865, adding heated seats and steering wheel, two-tone paint, and Nissan’s one-pedal driving system, e-Pedal.

Nissan expects the Micra to qualify for the UK’s Electric Car Grant, which could knock £1500 off the price—a move that could make a meaningful difference for cost-conscious EV adopters.

Interior Familiarity, Global Ambition

Inside, the Micra mirrors the Renault 5 with twin 10.25-inch displays and familiar switchgear, though it opts for a more muted colour palette with white, grey, and black themes.

European marketing chief Arnaud Charpentier acknowledged the Micra’s mission: to reposition the model as a cool, youthful EV aimed squarely at younger buyers. “The UK is our best market in Europe by far,” he noted, referencing over 133,000 UK sales since the start of 2024. “We had to come back with something different.”

The UK has long held a reputation for associating the Micra with older buyers, but Nissan is clearly aiming to shift that image. “We believe through the audacious and playful design… it’s going to help conquer new types of buyers, like younger, modern parents.”

More to Come in Nissan’s Electric Future

The Micra is just one piece of Nissan’s wider EV offensive. It will be followed by an all-new Leaf crossover, an electric Juke, and a compact A-segment model based on the upcoming Renault Twingo. All are due before the end of 2026, part of a critical phase in Nissan’s bid to rebound in Europe after recent losses and a sweeping cost-cutting programme.

Built in Douai, France, alongside the Renault 5, the Micra may share a skeleton, but it’s got its own soul—and Nissan is betting that’s enough to lure a new wave of buyers.

With a rich history and a nameplate that still carries weight, particularly in the UK and Italy, Nissan’s electric Micra might just be the surprise hit in a fast-growing EV marketplace.

Source: Nissan