Better late than never: Nissan to launch a compact electric SUV the size of the Juke

Nissan intends to launch a more compact electric SUV than the recently introduced Nissan Ariya, but as commented by the company, it seems that we will still have to wait a long time before seeing it on the streets.

Despite having launched two cars like the Nissan Leaf and the electric version of the Nissan Evalia, the Japanese manufacturer has not taken many more forceful steps in terms of electric cars until the recent presentation of the Nissan Ariya, a large electric SUV that It should be released this year and be supplemented later by smaller electric models.

In a statement to the British publication Auto Express, the general director of product planning for Nissan Europe, Nicolas Bozek, has hinted at the company's product plans for small cars in Europe, a market niche where they know that Nissan has a strong presence thanks to the Juke and Micra, but that has not been matched with the entry of the electric car into play.

Thus, Nissan needs to make up for the time and lost ground that other large manufacturers have invaded with the launch of electric versions of their compact electrics, especially within the B segment, although the bulk in terms of sales has focused almost all on a Korean , the electric Hyundai Kona.

Nicolas Bozek said in the statements collected by the British media: "We are quite strong in segment B. It could be quite interesting in this type of car."

There are not too many platforms that can give rise to this potential new electric SUV by Nissan, since the alliance between Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi has already given birth to the CMF bounded in different scales, so this future electric SUV of the size The Juke will have a lot in common with the new Renault Megane. Remember, in its next generation the Mégane will undergo an unprecedented change in a model with as much tradition as it, as it will take the step towards the SUV format hand in hand with a range of purely electric engines, without gasoline or diesel in between.

While the Ariya is destined to beat the supply of the D-SUV segment already flooding the market, with models like the first member of Toyota's BZ family, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Skoda Enyaq iV and Tesla Model Y, Nissan's future electric SUV will be positioned one step below to face Peugeot and Opel with their e-208 and Corsa-e and within the SUV with the e-2008 and Mokka-e, as well as the aforementioned Hyundai Kona electric.

Aesthetics will be its main attraction

He also alluded to the importance of aesthetics in electric cars. It said: "What is important to our customers? Not only in terms of electrification, but also in terms of body style. Electrification will become the norm and body style will become more relevant, because the choice will be more espacious". It is to imagine that this new SUV is peculiar in terms of conception then, and it is not unreasonable to think that it can inherit aesthetic features from both the Juke and the lines seen in the newly released Ariya.

It is still early to talk about technology and powertrains, but the product planning manager who has mentioned the E-4ORCE power and torque control system, and who will also find a place in this contained-size electric SUV.

Be that as it may, and except for a major surprise on the part of Nissan, it seems that we will still have to wait some time until we see some sign of progress in this niche by the Japanese firm, as they are late compared to their main competitors.