With Mitsubishi announcing its all-new 2024 Triton, the next dual-cab ute from the alliance is set to be the 2025 Nissan Navara. Here’s what we know so far.
Will it be based on the new Mitsubishi Triton?
The new model is expected to shift to the Triton’s newly-developed platform, as part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Although some elements are the same as the outgoing Triton’s chassis, Mitsubishi has concentrated on increasing strength, with bending rigidity up by 60 per cent and torsional rigidity up by 40 per cent.
Of course, it’s difficult to know if the Triton’s new chassis is stronger than the current Navara’s setup, but it is a more modern layout and it incorporates improvements in anti-corrosion measures, crash safety and noise and vibration. Nissan would, no doubt, want to spread some of the development costs by adopting the latest Triton setup.
What powertrains will be available?
A diesel will continue, at least initially. That we can guarantee. Speaking to Carsales last year, Nissan’s powertrain vice president, Toshihiro Hirai, said diesels offer “great performance and mileage” and that Nissan will “continue development” for diesel for the Asia Pacific markets, regarding the next Navara.
It’s understood Nissan might offer a number of choices to cater for different markets around the world. In the same report, Nissan’s global product development boss, Ivan Espinosa, is quoted as saying:
“The good thing is we have choices on the shelf, either own or together with our alliance partners. So we have diesel engines available, petrol engines available, the wonderful e-POWER… and we have battery EV, as well as plug-in hybrid with Mitsubishi.”
There has been some rumours circulating surrounding the idea of Nissan applying its e-Power hybrid technology into the next ute. This technology works a bit differently to a conventional hybrid. Electric motors provide the power to the wheels, while a small combustion engine maintains battery level, without mechanical connection to the wheels.
This type of setup, also known as a range-extender, would be very unique to the segment if it makes its way to Navara. Nissan already offers it with its X-Trail, which shares platforms with the Mitsubishi Outlander yet it uses a different plug-in hybrid setup. The local arm is about to introduce the Qashqai e-Power as well.
In a big, heavy ute that needs to offer a good range while having the ability to tow and carry heavy things, a ranger-extender system certainly seems more practical than a full electric ute. However, these systems are quite complex and might not suit pure heavy-duty applications.
The obvious choice would be Mitsubishi’s 2.4-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel. This carries over the same engine block as before but pretty much every other component is new or revised. It also meets Euro 6b emissions standards with Adblue, which is obviously going to be an important factor for Nissan. The current 2.3-litre twin-turbo Narava engine meets only Euro 5 standards.
What will it look like?
Speaking in that same report last year, Nissan’s global design boss Alfonso Albaisa suggested we turn to the latest Pathfinder and overseas Frontier pickup as a clue of the next Navara’s design theme.
It’s also believed Nissan will try hard to step as far as away as possible from the Triton in terms of styling to help provide a clear distinction between the two. The two companies, although under the same umbrella, usually compete fiercely even with similar products.
The renderings presented here, by Parallel Universe Cars, blend hints of the new Triton’s theme while bringing in some of Nissan’s latest SUV and pickup truck design language.
When will it arrive?
The new model will arrive either late this year or in the first half of 2025, according to a Drive report. Nissan has not spoken out about the new model in official terms, so we’ll have to wait and see to know for sure.
