Alliances assist automakers lower prices and pace up improvement. With Nissan in determined want of contemporary merchandise to bounce again after various tough years, it’s wanting to capitalize on its partnership with Renault. After asserting plans final month to carry again the Micra supermini as a reskinned Renault 5, Nissan confirmed this week that it’ll additionally launch its personal model of the even smaller and extra retro-tastic Twingo.

Nissan’s tackle the Twingo doesn’t have a reputation but however we do know that will probably be developed and produced by Ampere, an electrical automotive and software program firm a part of the Group Renault. Though a teaser picture isn’t out there but, Nissan says the A-segment mannequin might be designed in-house. That tells us it would put extra effort into the automotive’s styling as a substitute of swapping badges and calling it a day.

Picture by: Nissan

The Micra does have a handful of distinctive traits to separate it from the Renault model, however the French connection is instantly noticeable. It needs to be the identical story with the diminutive EV. Set to value from roughly €20,000, the Twingo is just not solely getting a Nissan equal but additionally a Dacia by-product, priced at a fair decrease €18,000.

Paradoxically, Nissan has determined to not spend money on Ampere anymore, the exact same firm in control of bringing its smallest EV (apart from the Sakura kei automotive) to market. The settlement inked between the 2 automakers in July 2023 referred to as for Nissan to spend cash on the newly established agency. Nonetheless, Nissan is getting out of the tie-up by the tip of subsequent month.

The Renault-Nissan alliance is present process additional modifications. Cross-shareholdings are lowering from 15 to 10 p.c, permitting each firms to scale back their stakes to this new minimal in the event that they select, with out obligations. Moreover, Renault is buying Nissan’s 51-percent stake within the Indian department.

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2026 Nissan Rogue PHEV teaser

What about Mitsubishi? Nissan has all however confirmed it would borrow one thing from its home associate as properly. A well-known SUV hides within the shadows, and it’s doubtless based mostly on the Outlander PHEV. Nissan has confirmed a plug-in hybrid Rogue for the US will arrive later this 12 months, and we consider it’s an Outlander with completely different badges.

That shouldn’t come as an enormous shock because the two fashions are lower from the identical material by sharing the CMF-CD structure. Extra selection actually wouldn’t have damage however the quickest option to carry a product to the market is by borrowing an present mannequin and altering its logos. It is value noting Nissan will carry a completely redesigned, fourth-generation Rogue to the US later in 2026, full with E-Energy.

Picture by: Nissan

Should you’re not accustomed to the advertising and marketing jargon, it refers to a 1.5-liter gasoline engine serving as a generator to cost a battery that feeds electrical motors. The combustion engine is just not mechanically related to the wheels, prompting Nissan to say automobiles with E-Energy behave like EVs. The revamped Rogue can even come as a extra conventional plug-in hybrid, which tells us the rebadged Outlander PHEV can have a brief shelf life.

Ideally, the brand new technique pays off, in order that Nissan’s new boss can fulfill his dream of bringing again the Silvia. Ivan Espinosa has already promised the GT-R will return sooner or later, however the boring stuff like SUVs and the brand new Sentra sedan should be profitable first earlier than the corporate commits to thrilling area of interest merchandise. The corporate additionally pins its hopes on the second-geneartion Leaf, which has morphed right into a crossover.

Picture by: Nissan