X-Trail on electric route

The next generation of Nissan’s medium sports utility seems set to transfer to the brand’s ePower drivetrain.

 THOUGHT an innovative electric powertrain will prioritise in the next Nissan X-Trail seems to have been cemented with the car’s full reveal.

Nissan chose the Shanghai motor show that opened this week as the venue to fully display the car and also confirm that it will option in seven seat form and also deliver with the new ePower powertrain technology.

This system differs from a conventional hybrid powertrain in that a petrol engine features but is used exclusively as a generator to charge a battery, which in turn powers an electric motor connected to the front axle. 

Nissan has yet to provision exact details of the X-Trail’s set-up, but it’s thought the model might go the same way as a sister crossover on the same underpinning, the Qashqai, which has a 1.5-litre petrol engine mated to a front-mounted electric motor for a total output of 140kW.

Nissan is promising enhanced efficiency and lower emissions than the range of pure-petrol and diesel engines used by the current car.

The fourth-generation car will remain available optionally with seven seats, but is said to "remain sufficiently compact for easy parking manoeuvres". 

X-Trail is on the CMF-C architecture shared with partner brands Mitsubishi and Renault.

Nissan has confirmed a four-wheel-drive variant will be offered, equipped with different settings for driving on snow, mud and gravel. 

Dimensions and technical details have yet to be revealed, but it is expected to mirror the Nissan Rogue that restricts to North America, which means it will be slightly shorter and lower than the current model. That might not seem apparent from the kerbside, however, as it has undergone a complete design overhaul that sees it take on boxier, more angular styling than before.

A large, chrome-trimmed grille is flanked by split LED headlights with a claw-like shape, while the roofline is flatter than in previous models.

The interior includes a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display as well as a 10.8-inch central infotainment system on the dashboard.

The Shanghai debut was because China is set to be first off the rank for the car, with deliveries set to begin later this year. There’s no word yet on when it’ll arrive elsewhere across the world.