Nissan unveiled its latest business plan last night, titled “Vision of Mobility Intelligence for Everyday Life”. Behind the buzzwords, however, were the first two teasers of nameplates of great importance to enthusiasts: the Skyline and the Xterra. While the long-term vision sees Nissan trimming the fat, the good news is that models dear to the hearts of fans will still hold a place in the company.
For those keeping track, this is the third time Nissan has laid out a grand vision for its future in the last five years. In November 2021, the Ambition 2030 plan aimed to electrify 50 percent of Nissan’s lineup by the end of the decades, launching 23 electrified models, including 15 new EVs. Then in March 2024 Nissan proposed The Arc, which counted 30 new models in the next three years, of which 16 would be electrified. But then a big management shakeup and a failed merger with Honda later, and here we are.
The latest strategic vision divides Nissan products into four distinct categories. These are Nissan’s own names and descriptions for each:
“Heartbeat” models are cars represent the essence of Nissan identity and carry the emotion, heritage, and innovation of the brand. The teased Skyline and Xterra fall into this category, as do the Z, Patrol/Armada and, curiously, the Leaf. Presumably, the upcoming hybrid R36 GT-R will as well.
“Core” models are the bread and butter vehicles whose sales keep the lights on. The Rogue, Sentra, Note, and a new Juke EV for Europe. No big surprises here.
“Growth” models target specific market niches in which Nissan sees a demand and believes it “can play a distinctive role,” according to CEO Ivan Espinosa. These include the Elgrand and Sakura kei car.
“Partner” models are cars developed jointly with other companies, like the Renault-based Micra, the Rogue-based Mitsubishi Outlander, and the China-market Frontier Pro pickup, a completely different model than what we get in the US, with diesel and PHEV options.
Heartbeat is a great name for the models enthusiasts care about, and reference the “Feel the Beat” tagline. This slogan ended Nissan ads in the 80s and early 90s, a golden era that spawned some of the company’s most beloved cars.
“Skyline is a heartbeat model, a symbol of Japanese engineering and driving performance infused with raw emotion,” Espinosa said as a teaser flashed on the screen behind him. It revealed signature quad taillights, classical C-pillar, and script Skyline emblem that recalls that of the Hakosuka.
Espniosa also promised an injection of new models for Infiniti, including a V6-powered performance sedan. That will presumably be the Q50 successor based on this Skyline, and equipped with the twin-turbo V6 and 6-speed manual found in the Fairlady Z.
An Xterra teaser followed, showing an SUV with three slots in the hood that recall the D21 Hardbody and Pathfinder. However, the three rectangles are lights. A true body-on-frame SUV powered by a V6 and V6 hybrid options, it will challenge the mega hot North American 4×4 market. While competitors like Toyota and Ford zig with turbo fours, Nissan will zag with its tried and true V6.
It’s no coincidence that the SUV in the video is yellow, the hero color for the Xterra when it debuted, but the rain could be a very obscure easter egg from that Y2k era launch. When the Xterra was unveiled at the LA Auto Show in 1999, Nissan passed out bright yellow ponchos to the gathered press. It was a nod to the Xterra’s outdoors cred, but also helped keep the journalists dry as the Xterra drove out on stage and artificial rain began falling inside the LA Convention Center.
It was a memorable spectacle from the era of stunt press conferences. We’re pretty sure most of Nissan’s PR folks from that era have moved on so maybe this is a coincidence, but perhaps there are people deep within the company that have not forgotten its past.
The Xterra frame will underpin a new body-on-frame Pathfinder as well as two new hybrid Infiniti BoF SUVs based on those models. And there’s potentially a 700-horsepower QX80 in the works to challenge the Cadillac Escalade-V.
The business plan will see Nissan cut down the number of models globally from 56 to 45, but the good news is that the enthusiast models feel like they’re safe. In a way Espinosa must undo the Carlos Ghosn era in which Nissan ruthlessly pursued market share to the detriment of many products. This doesn’t sound like a cold-hearted calculation of looking at each model’s sales, but a framework that understands the Nissan brand as a whole.
Images: Nissan
As a Q50S Redsport owner… I’d like to see the replacement sold as a Skyline. And why not – this is one of the most famous model names in the history of Nissan – ever – and it should be the same worldwide even from Infiniti.
That would be something to aspire to, since the letters Q and 50 have no meaning whatsoever.