Nissan has released a first teaser image of its upcoming crossover concept which is set to be unveiled at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show 2015. With the Z crossover, Nissan plans to meet the requirements of Z fans, while also tapping into the hugely popular crossover segment in the US.
Nissan has considered its 1.6-litre turbocharged line-up of engines for a high-performance variant, along with smaller 1.2 and 1.5-litre four-cylinder engines for the standard versions.
The new Z's proportions will place it between the Nissan Juke and the Nissan Qashqai, and will be built on the Common Module Family (CMF) platform, developed under the Nissan-Renault Alliance, which also underpins the upcoming Renault Kwid. The Z crossover is expected to sport a coupé-like silhouette. It could receive upgrades from Nismo, Nissan’s performance tuning division.
The new Z is expected to find a middle ground and to cater to SUV buyers who find the Nissan Juke a tad too small, and the Qashqai far too big.
The new CMF-B platform has the flexibility to accommodate hybrid powertrains, so it’s possible the concept at least will showcase a setup featuring an electric motor to drive one of the axles.
Glenn Noronha
Dhruv Dhaka
Dipan Sur
Hormazd Sorabjee
