Partnership between Nissan and Renault helps cut costs and speed up development in the automotive industry. In an effort to revitalize its lineup after a few challenging years, Nissan is keen on leveraging its alliance with Renault. Recently, Nissan announced its plan to reintroduce the Micra supermini as a re-skinned Renault 5 and confirmed that they will also launch a smaller, more stylish retro-styled version of the Twingo.
Though the new Nissan Twingo doesn’t have a name yet, it’s set to be developed and manufactured by Ampere, an electric vehicle and software company that is part of the Renault Group. While teaser images are not yet available, Nissan indicates that this A-segment model will be uniquely designed, suggesting a focus on the car’s style rather than just swapping badges and calling it a new car.
The Micra retains some distinctive features that set it apart from its Renault counterpart, but the French influence is evident. This narrative is expected to continue with this compact electric vehicle. With prices starting at €20,000, the Twingo will not only have an equivalent Nissan version but also a cheaper derivative from Dacia priced at €18,000.
Interestingly, Nissan has decided to discontinue its investment in Ampere, the same company responsible for bringing its smallest electric vehicle (excluding the kei car Sakura) to market. Despite signing an agreement with the company in July 2023, Nissan will exit the deal by the end of next month.
The Renault-Nissan alliance is undergoing further changes with a reduction in cross-shareholding from 15 to 10 percent, allowing both companies to decrease their stakes to this new minimum level if desired, without any obligations. Furthermore, Renault has acquired a 51 percent stake in Nissan’s Indian branch.
Moving forward, what about Mitsubishi? Nissan has confirmed that they will also draw from their domestic partner. An SUV resembling the Outlander PHEV is likely poised to enter the market under a different badge and is anticipated to be the Rogue PHEV for the United States by the year’s end. This move is expected given that both models share the same CMF-CD architecture.
While additional variations are welcome, the fastest way to bring a product to market is by borrowing an existing model and changing its logo. Nissan is set to introduce a completely redesigned fourth-generation Rogue to the US in 2026, complete with E-Power technology.
E-Power refers to a 1.5-liter gasoline engine acting as a generator to charge the battery powering the electric motor, decoupled from the wheels. This setup allows Nissan to classify E-Power vehicles as behaving similarly to electric cars. The overhauled Rogue will also arrive as a more traditional plug-in hybrid, suggesting a shortened lifespan for the revamped Outlander PHEV.
Ideally, this new strategy will yield positive results, enabling Nissan’s new leadership to realize their dream of bringing back the Silvia. Ivan Espinosa has promised the return of the GT-R someday, but practical models like SUVs and the new Sentra sedan must first succeed before committing to more niche products. The company also pins its hopes on the second-generation Leaf, which has transformed into a crossover model.
