Nissan has finally pulled the covers off the X-Trail NISMO. It’s the brand’s very first X-Trail NISMO, which is exclusive to the Japanese market, for now. It projects a racing-inspired aura and offers improved mechanics in the guise of a practical daily ride for the family.
So, what does “NISMO-fying” do to the X-Trail? It’s gotten more expensive, really. It can be recalled that prior to its global launch, Nissan announced the pricing of the X-Trail NISMO in Japan to start at ¥5,416,400 or P2.1-million in today’s exchange rate. The band also said that the price could increase further if optioned with some special NISMO upgrades, essentially placing the car up in the premium category.
Now, this move is understandable, but it did ruffle some feathers as the X-Trail is known to be among the affordable popular choices for small SUV buyers. But with the style and technology that’s packed into this car, the steep pricing is justified.
Style-wise, the Nissan X-Trail NISMO’s got an aerodynamic package that integrates with its practical design as a small crossover SUV. The front end enters the scene with a dark chrome-accented grille, complemented by restyled lighting signatures that give it a meaner look. Below the grille is a red-accented splitter. The piece not only rounds out the racing-inspired styling but also helps generate downforce for a more aerodynamically stable drive.
In profile, Nissan installed a set of NISMO side skirts that further enhance the vehicle’s aerodynamic performance. These go in between a set of 20-inch aluminum wheels, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport EV tires. In back, the X-Trail NISMO leaves the scene with a diffuser-shaped under bumper trim. This piece comes with red accents and a vertical fog lamp placed in the center to channel in that motorsport aesthetic.
Opening the doors, the Nissan X-Trail NISMO greets with a black motif with red accents that continue the NISMO styling. According to Nissan, it didn’t tinker much with the interior’s overall design and features, so as to keep the base model X-Trail’s ambiance and comfort intact. It, however, announced the availability of swapping out the regular front seats with special NISMO seats made by Recaro, a German car seat specialist. These seats add style and purpose as they help support the occupants during high-spirited drives.
Beneath the bodywork, the Nissan X-Trail NISMO runs on a specially tuned underpinning. This is reinforced with special sock absorbers for a more balanced and comfortable ride. In addition, Nissan said that it reworked the car’s electric all-wheel-drive system, called the e-4ORCE, to provide more bias to the rear wheels, while improving the front wheels’ handling, especially during high-speed cornering.
As a hybrid EV, the Nissan X-Trail NISMO falls under the brand’s e-POWER model lineup. It moves with a gasoline engine that acts as a power generator to run an electric motor that drives the wheels.
Nissan didn’t specify much about the powertrain technicalities, but the X-Trail NISMO is fitted with the same setup as the non-NISMO variants. The combined output of the NISMO variant’s hybrid system is 201 hp and 329 Nm of torque.
With the launch of the Nissan X-Trail NISMO in Japan, it’s possible that a Philippine-spec model could be in the stages of being introduced in the near future. It’s alright that some may worry that it could be priced just as high if Nissan Philippines were to bring it in. But keep in mind that the 50% excise tax exemption on hybrid vehicles provided by the EVIDA Law could bring the figures down to a more reasonable level.
The question is, will Nissan Philippines even consider bringing the X-Trail NISMO?
