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Nissan’s portfolio of electrified vehicles is set to expand with the addition of the NX8 large SUV, but don't expect to see it outside of China just yet.
Family Cars
Nissan has a new three-row SUV on the way that rivals a Pathfinder for size, but will offer a choice of electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Trademark filings from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology revealed the first details of the new model, with Nissan quickly following up with official details.
The Nissan NX8 will be the first Nissan model to use an 800-volt electrical architecture, enabling access to ‘5C’ charging, or a peak charge rate five times that of the battery’s capacity, which has not yet been revealed.
The NX8 will be offered as an electric vehicle with either a 215kW or 250kW single motor powertrain. The PHEV version combined a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 109kW with a 195kW electric motor.
Dongfeng Nissan currently sells Chinese-developed models, including the N7 EV sedan and N6 PHEV sedan, alongside global Nissan models like the Qashqai and X-Trail.
The NX8 will be the first ‘new energy’ SUV from the Dongfeng Nissan joint venture, and slots into he range between the X-Trail and Pathfinder.
Patent filings for the NX8 show it as being 4870mm long, making it 190mm longer than the X-Trail and 134mm shorter than the Pathfinder sold in Australia. Dongfeng Nissan sells a slightly different version of the Pathfinder that’s larger still, at 260mm longer than the NX8.
Despite the upsize compared to the X-Trail, the NX8 will only be offered with five seats.
Styling for the NX8 follows that of the N6 and N7 with a closed-off front facia and the outline of Nissan’s V-motion grille marked by a full-width light bar, and the boomerang-shaped front headlights.
At the rear, the NX8 features an OLED tail light panel that runs the full width of the rear of the vehicle and can display customisable lighting patterns.
The NX8 will also feature flush door handles, an available contrasting roof, and 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels, depending on the specification.
The NX8 is expected to come equipped with advanced driver assist functions, including semi-autonomous point-to-point driving on navigation, intelligent self-parking, and an integrated LiDAR sensor to allow a wider range of safety systems.
Although not confirmed for export at this point, Nissan has hinted that the N6 and N7 sedans could be rolled out to global markets outside of China, and given the relative popularity of SUVs over sedans, it follows that the NX8 may also see extended availability.
While Nissan has not publicly confirmed plans to introduce Chinese-sourced vehicles for Australia, the brand did reveal to dealers that the Chinese Frontier Pro ute, another Dongfeng joint venture product, was on the radar for arrival in the next 12 to 18 months.
Family Cars Guide
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
