Following leaks from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Nissan has lifted the lid on its all-new mid-size electric crossover, the NX8. It’s becoming increasingly questionable whether this strikingly designed model could be the leading vehicle to reverse the brand’s decline in the American market.
The “N” Series, Developed Specifically for the Chinese Market
Nissan has been going through a particularly challenging period recently, particularly globally. Industry analysts agree that a “product problem” underlies the brand’s efforts to return to its former glory.
But things don’t have to be as they seem. Nissan’s pipeline boasts cutting-edge and innovative new products, such as the all-new NX8 BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) and the EREV (Range Extended Electric Vehicle) crossover seen here. There’s only one problem: Nissan’s ambitious comeback vehicles are currently only available in China.
Dongfeng Nissan, the joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Group and Nissan for the Chinese market, has been releasing a succession of successful models in recent months. The previously released N6 sedan (pictured above), which sits between the Altima and Maxima in size, is one such model. This EREV model, with its 21.1 kWh LFP battery, offers an electric range of up to 180 kilometers (112 miles) before the range-extending 1.5-liter gasoline engine kicks in.
The N6’s electric sibling, the N7 sedan, was launched a few months ago and received rave reviews from critics and was a huge success, selling over 10,000 units in its first three weeks on the market.
The new NX8 crossover, like its sedan counterparts, is technologically ambitious. The all-electric (BEV) version of the model is built on an 800V system architecture and features an LFP battery pack from CATL. Thanks to the 5C ultra-fast charging technology used in this battery, the vehicle can theoretically be charged to a significant capacity in less than 12 minutes (5C represents a charging time of approximately 12 minutes divided by 5).
The single electric motor used in the BEV version will produce either 215 kW (approximately 290 hp) or 250 kW (approximately 335 hp), depending on the model.
The NX8 EREV version uses a similar setup to the N6. This model pairs a 1.5-liter internal combustion engine producing 109 kW (approximately 145 hp) with a 195 kW (approximately 260 hp) electric motor. The NX8 EREV’s pure electric range is expected to be slightly less than the N6’s 180 kilometers (Chinese test cycle).
