Leaked patent filings from Nissan appear to reveal the production version of the Hi-Cross concept, which could be a preview at the next-generation Rogue or X-Trail, the latter of which isn’t sold in America.
Auto News
AutoGuide News Blog
The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
Heading to the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show is the Nissan Hi-Cross Concept, a compact crossover we originally saw earlier this year at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.
And with talk of adding a new edition to the Nissan lineup of crossovers in Europe, namely the Juke, Murano and Qashqai, that means a production version of the Hi-Cross will pick up where the boxy X-Trail left off.
As for the US, well Nissan dealers said they didn’t want the X-Trail when it was first introduced in 2005, but given how fast things change in the auto business, what might have seemed like a good idea then, probably isn’t now or in the near future, so such a vehicle might have a fighting chance this time around.
Nissan says the Hi-Cross showcases the future direction of corporate vehicle design, though it does have an aura of Infiniti FX about it, thanks to its coke bottle contours. Although a compact, the Hi-Cross boasts three-row seating, giving it considerable interior flexibility as well as great potential sales appeal.
Utilizing a development of Nissan’s new Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) drivetrain, the Hi-CROSS combines a 2.0-liter gas four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and compact lithium ion battery system. The result is said to provide the performance of a 2.5-liter motor with the fuel economy and emissions of a much smaller engine.
As for the transmission, well it probably isn’t surprising that a version of Nissan’s XTRONIC CVT is employed, though smaller pulleys and a new belt have been incorporated to improve efficiency, while a “one motor, two clutch” system allows the gasoline engine to be engaged and uncoupled at will.
Although Nissan’s Deputy Division General Manager of Product Strategy François Bancon, says the Hi-CROSS is “purely a concept car, exploring potential ideas for the future,” it does seem rather advanced for such a machine, plus the segment it’s aimed at is currently one of the most lucrative of all, which begs the question; could a production model be announced in New York or Paris? Watch this space.
GALLERY: Nissan Hi-Cross Concept
Nissan has just announced a second major debut for next week’s Geneva Motor Show, releasing a teaser image of what it calls the Hi-Cross concept. The new concept car, or should we say truck, is rumored to provide a glimpse at the next-generation X-Trail.
Dropped from North America back in 2007 in favor of the Rogue, with Nissan now taking more of a crossover approach to the vehicle, it’s possible this new model could be a global model.
In a brief release, Nissan claims it is the “undisputed leader in the crossover segment” and comments that the Hi-Cross concept is an example of how it is, “exploring ideas to expand its award-winning range” at the Geneva Motor Show.
In addition to the Hi-Cross, Nissan will also reveal its impressive looking new Invitation concept, which is rumored as a Versa hatchback replacement.
See a video teaser below: