Tag Archives: Nissan

News

Nissan Targets 10 Nismo Models Worldwide by 2028

Nissan is preparing a significant expansion of its high-performance Nismo sub-brand, confirming plans to double the global Nismo line-up to 10 models as part of a broader strategy to restore profitability and reinvigorate its brand image.

The move sits at the heart of Nissan’s newly announced recovery programme, Re:Power, led by CEO Ivan Espinosa. Alongside cost-cutting and a more regionalised product approach, the strategy leans heavily on halo models to rebuild emotional appeal — a role Nismo is now set to play more prominently than ever.

Beyond increasing the number of models, Nissan also wants Nismo variants to reach a wider audience. Global sales of Nismo cars are expected to rise from around 100,000 units today to 150,000 by 2028, with between 40 and 60 per cent of that growth coming from markets outside Japan. That marks a clear shift for a badge that has traditionally been strongest on home soil.

Exactly which models will receive the Nismo treatment remains unclear. Nissan has offered no guidance on whether future additions will be combustion-powered, fully electric or a mix of both, nor has it confirmed which regions will benefit from the expanded line-up. What it has made clear, however, is a willingness to look beyond its own engineering teams.

The company said it will “actively consider collaborations with external partners” for future Nismo projects, a statement that opens the door to some intriguing possibilities. One such prospect is a Micra Nismo, potentially based on the Alpine A290 — the performance derivative of the Renault 5 — mirroring the relationship between the standard Micra and its Renault sibling.

At present, Nismo’s presence varies widely by market. In the UK, the only Nismo-badged model on sale is the Ariya Nismo, a dual-motor electric SUV positioned as a performance flagship for Nissan’s EV range. Elsewhere, the badge is applied more liberally, appearing on models such as the Z sports car, Skyline saloon, X-Trail SUV and the Patrol off-roader.

The renewed emphasis on Nismo also ties into Nissan’s long-running desire to re-establish clear halo products. In 2023, the firm previewed a potential electric successor to the GT-R with the Hyper Force concept, signalling that outright performance and brand theatre still matter, even in an increasingly electrified future.

Motorsport will continue to underpin that philosophy. Nissan confirmed it will develop a number of prototype vehicles for “racing activities” over the coming year, aimed at accelerating both hardware and software development. These are expected to include experimental machines derived from its Formula E programme, which Autocar has previously reported will play a key role in future road-car technology transfer.

Already active in Formula E and Japan’s Super GT series, Nissan is also evaluating opportunities to expand into new forms of racing, reinforcing the idea that competition will remain central to the Nismo identity.

After several years of heavy losses, the stakes for Re:Power are high. For Espinosa, Nismo is more than just a performance badge — it is a strategic tool. By broadening its reach and sharpening its appeal, Nissan is betting that high-performance, emotionally driven models can once again help define the brand, and pull the wider range forward with them.

Source: Autocar; Photo: Nissan Australia

News

Nissan Teams Up With Wayve to Take ProPILOT From Driver Assist to AI Co-Pilot

For nearly a decade, Nissan’s ProPILOT has quietly evolved from a highway helper into one of the brand’s most important technology pillars. Now, Nissan is betting that the next leap forward won’t come from incremental sensor upgrades or more computing power alone—but from artificial intelligence that learns to drive more like a human.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has signed definitive agreements with U.K.-based AI company Wayve to integrate Wayve’s embodied AI software into the next-generation ProPILOT system. The goal is ambitious: deliver smoother, smarter, point-to-point driver assistance across a wide range of Nissan vehicles, with the first production model launching in Japan in fiscal year 2027.

From Lane-Keeping to Learning

ProPILOT debuted in 2016 as a single-lane highway assist system. By 2019, ProPILOT 2.0 expanded its capabilities with multi-lane support and hands-off driving under specific conditions. It was competent, confidence-building tech—but still firmly in the “assist” category.

The Wayve partnership signals a shift in philosophy. Rather than relying solely on rule-based programming, Nissan is moving toward an AI-driven approach that can adapt to complex, real-world driving environments. At the heart of the collaboration is Wayve’s “AI Driver,” an end-to-end embodied AI system designed to perceive, decide, and act in a way that more closely resembles human driving behavior.

Nissan previewed this direction in September 2025 with a prototype that combined Wayve’s AI Driver with Nissan’s “Ground Truth Perception” technology and next-generation LiDAR. The result, according to Nissan, was smooth and confident performance not just on highways, but in dense urban traffic—where traditional ADAS systems often struggle.

Why This Matters

Unlike many autonomous driving efforts that target robotaxis or tightly geofenced deployments, Wayve’s AI is designed to scale. The system can adapt efficiently to new cities and vehicle platforms with minimal additional development—a key reason Nissan is committing to deploying it across a broad range of segments.

Nissan will be the first automaker to bring Wayve’s AI to mass-produced vehicles at scale. The system will work with ProPILOT’s existing sensor suite, including cameras, radar, and LiDAR, enabling flexible configurations across different models and price points.

Just as importantly, mass deployment means real-world learning. Every vehicle equipped with the new ProPILOT will help refine the system across diverse roads, traffic patterns, and driving styles—strengthening Nissan’s long-term competitiveness in intelligent driving tech.

A Measured Path to Autonomy

This isn’t Nissan promising full self-driving tomorrow. Instead, it’s a pragmatic step forward: advanced driver assistance that feels more natural, more intuitive, and less robotic. Think fewer awkward handoffs, smoother decision-making in traffic, and assistance that works beyond well-marked highways.

Nissan President and CEO Ivan Espinosa calls the partnership “a new benchmark for driver assistance,” emphasizing safety, comfort, and inclusivity. Wayve CEO Alex Kendall frames it as a breakthrough moment—bringing embodied AI out of research labs and into everyday cars.

The Bigger Picture

As automakers race to define the future of driving, Nissan’s approach stands out for its restraint. Rather than chasing headlines with bold autonomy claims, the company is doubling down on scalable, real-world technology that can improve how millions of people drive—right now, not in some distant autonomous future.

If Nissan delivers on its promise, the next ProPILOT won’t just help you stay in your lane. It might actually start to feel like it understands the road.

Source: Nissan

NEW CARS

2027 Nissan X-Trail: Back to Rugged Roots, Aiming for the Segment’s Throne

Nissan is gearing up for one of its most important launches of the decade: an all-new X-Trail—known to American buyers as the Rogue—scheduled to make its debut in 2027. The stakes couldn’t be higher. This is Nissan’s challenger in the biggest, most cutthroat segment on the planet, chasing the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, two of the world’s top-selling vehicles. And Nissan knows the current model has lost ground.

The plan was first teased by Nissan executive Ivan Espinosa and later sharpened by design chief Alfonso Albaisa, who didn’t mince words about the mission: the next X-Trail has to stand out again.

A Nameplate in Need of a Comeback

The fourth-generation X-Trail has only been around since 2021, but compared to the tougher, boxier first two generations, it’s struggled to recapture its former popularity—especially in markets where rugged looks are trending hard. Meanwhile, both the RAV4 and CR-V continue to post monster sales.

So Nissan is fast-tracking a replacement, aiming to restore some of that original character without sacrificing the family-friendly practicality that keeps this segment humming.

Albaisa described the challenge clearly: “The trick with the Rogue is the functionality of that car leading the segment. The roominess is a nice balance for its size. But it’s lost its punch… People are reacting to things that look a bit more different.”

In other words: keep the usefulness, dial up the attitude.

A Sharper, Boxier, More Distinctive Look

Expect the next X-Trail to hold roughly the same footprint—five or seven seats, big cargo space, and a shape that won’t alienate the family-SUV crowd. But the design team is adding more visual edge this time around.

Albaisa says the new model will have “a bit more edginess” and be “a bit more boxy than today, but with a futuristic expression.” Nissan has apparently been experimenting with new textures and bolder surfacing, aiming for something more distinctive than the current model’s safe, rounded shape.

Rugged design is making a comeback across the industry—Bronco, Defender, and even Hyundai’s Santa Fe are proof—and Nissan wants in. Considering the original X-Trail helped define this look back in the early 2000s, this isn’t just a shift; it’s a return to form.

Refined but Tough: A New Identity with e-Power

Although ruggedness will guide the design theme, Albaisa stresses that refinement will play an equally big role. The new X-Trail will continue offering Nissan’s e-Power hybrid system, and this time, it’s coming to the U.S. for the very first time.

That alone could reshape the Rogue’s identity. e-Power operates differently from typical hybrids—the petrol engine generates electricity, and the wheels are driven exclusively by electric motors. Smooth, quiet, EV-like driving without a plug. Nissan clearly thinks this is a game-changer for the segment.

Given that electrification is becoming a hallmark of modern design language, expect subtle cues hinting at the X-Trail’s hybrid-heavy personality.

One thing it won’t have? A full battery-electric powertrain. Nissan is cooking up a separate, dedicated EV with more space and flexibility than the Ariya, but details remain tightly locked away.

Cabin Inspired by the New Leaf

Inside, the next X-Trail should leap forward in tech and ergonomics. Nissan recently invested big in a new Google-based infotainment platform, debuting in the next-gen Leaf, and the X-Trail is expected to adopt a similar dual-screen layout.

But unlike some competitors retreating into screen-only minimalism, Nissan knows its audience. Expect physical climate controls, durable materials, plenty of storage spaces, and seating that can handle real family abuse. The waterproof upholstery from the N-Trek trim is likely to influence future color and material choices as well.

Reveals Coming Soon

The next Rogue will break cover first, likely in late 2026, with the Japanese and European-market X-Trail variants following closely in early 2027. Considering Nissan’s urgent tone, expect a sharp swing toward distinctiveness, capability, and personality—something to reignite the spark that made the original X-Trail such a hit.

If Nissan delivers on the promise of “more wow and more spice,” the segment’s heavyweights may finally have something to worry about again.

Source: Auto Express