New Nissan ute for China leaked, but it's not the new Navara for Australia
09/16/2024 06:00 PM
Nissan in China is preparing to launch a new ute with boxy styling, but it will not be the long-awaited Navara replacement for Australia.
A new ute that may replace the Nissan Navara in China has surfaced early in leaked images, with super-sized dimensions – and a choice of petrol and diesel power.
However, it will not be Nissan’s new Navara for Australia, which is expected to launch within 18 months as a twin to the latest Mitsubishi Triton.
The Nissan Yuanye Z9 in these images is likely to be sold exclusively in China, where it is a strong chance to succeed the current ‘D23’ Navara on sale since 2017, three years after it arrived in Australia.
MORE: New Nissan Navara to follow BYD Shark and Ford Ranger as the next ute to go plug-in hybrid
While it isn’t slated for local showrooms, the new Chinese Nissan ute could inform the styling of the next Australian Navara, with boxy proportions and more contemporary LED lights.
Details and images of the Yuanye Z9 have been published by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), spotted by Carscoops and local website Autohome.
The new Chinese ute measures 5520mm long, 1960mm wide and 1950mm tall – dimensions that would make it one of the largest models in its class – riding on a 3300mm wheelbase.
Compared to the new Triton, it is 200mm longer nose to tail, 95mm wider and 150mm taller, but – crucially – 170mm longer between the front and rear wheels.
The longer wheelbase indicates the Chinese ute is not based on the new Triton, which is expected to lend its frame – or significant parts of it – to the new Navara planned for Australia.
Design highlights such as the black trim extending below the window line on the rear doors, and the rounded wheel-arch openings suggest there are no external parts shared with the latest Triton.
Chinese specifications also show the Yuanye Z9 is 209mm longer overall, 110mm wider, 120mm taller, and 150mm longer in wheelbase than the current dual-cab Navara.
Power is said to come from a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine developing 190kW, though Carscoops reports a 182kW version will also be available.
A diesel is also expected to be available, though technical details of the engine are unclear. Carscoops reports it will be a 140kW 3.0-litre unit, while Autohome claims it will be a 2.3-litre motor.
A plug-in hybrid is reportedly planned to join the range in the coming years, according to Carscoops.
The Nissan Navara is sold in China through the company’s Zhengzhou Nissan division, alongside rebadged variants marketed by its joint-venture partner Dongfeng, with the option of electric power.
As previously reported by Drive, the new Navara for Australia is expected to merge with the US-market Frontier to create one new-generation ‘mid-size’ pick-up for global markets.
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