As utility vehicles become more popular in the global automotive market, a Nissan performance bakkie is rumoured to be under consideration for the Japanese manufacturer’s Nismo arm. This product could be joined by a crossover to join the existing line-up as part of a strategy to break into the North American market.
Speaking to Automotive News, global CEO of Nismo, Takao Katagiri revealed that the company is investigating the possibility of a Nissan performance bakkie. This idea has been sprouted because the manufacturer is said to be “having lots of discussions” about how to introduce more Nismo products that may appeal to American buyers.
“When we look at the U.S. market and what our competitors are doing there, I think there is a possibility [for Nismo] in the crossover and truck segments going forward,” Katagiri said at the unveiling this month of the Note Aura Nismo.
In 2017, Katagiri announced plans to double the number of Nismo adaptations for the Nissan brand and to deliver a near sevenfold increase in sales within five years. The goal was to lift global Nismo deliveries to 100 000 units in the early 2020s. In 2016, this figure stood at 15 000 units.
“Nismo is a global brand. But when it comes to its actual business, Nismo heavily relies on Japan at the moment,” Katagiri said. “In overseas markets, the U.S. and Europe included, the so-called globalisation of Nismo is something we are going to do from now on.”
While not a Nissan performance bakkie that falls under the Nismo brand, the Japanese manufacturer’s Australian arm did reveal its Navara Pro-4X Warrior as a competitor to the Ford Ranger Raptor. This product sports the unchanged twin-turbodiesel 2,3-litre four-cylinder mill good for 140 kW and 450 N.m of torque. Giving it an extra edge over the standard model is a revised suspension with Cooper Discoverer All Terrain AT3 tyres.
