Nissan Terrano PHEV Concept to Spawn Production Model in a Year
Nissan unveiled two concept cars at the Beijing auto show, the Terrano PHEV and the Urban SUV PHEV.The Terrano is a large off-roader with a boxy, rugged look, while the Urban SUV is clearly designed for on-road driving and wears sleeker styling.Nissan says both concepts will be followed by production models in China within the next year.Last week, Nissan piqued our interest with a shadowy teaser for a burly off-road SUV concept. Now, as the Beijing auto show kicks off in China, Nissan has unveiled the Terrano PHEV concept, reviving a name from its past for a boxy new adventure vehicle that it says will enter production soon.NissanThe Terrano nameplate was used in the 1980s and 1990s on versions of the Nissan Pathfinder sold outside of the United States, and returns now on a large SUV with plenty of off-road design cues. There are minimal details about what's going on underneath the Terrano's sheetmetal, but we know it employs a plug-in hybrid powertrain and looks set up for all-terrain driving.The upright front end and short overhangs give the Terrano a purposeful look. The bumpers feature integrated skid plates and tow hooks and look to provide excellent approach and departure angles. The face is characterized by several rectangular LED lights, augmented by yellow lights mounted on the hood and at the front of the futuristic roof rack.NissanThree vents in the hood help feed air to the engine, and the black cladding wraps around the wheel wells. At the rear, a spare tire sits behind a body-colored band with Nissan badging, while a ladder provides access to the roof. The Terrano looks like a proper off-roader, and we're really loving the handsome, not overly aggressive design.The Terrano wasn't the only concept unveiled by Nissan, with the brand also showing off the Urban SUV PHEV concept, a sleeker, more road-oriented model. Like the Terrano, the Urban SUV is a plug-in hybrid, and Nissan says its design targets young Chinese car shoppers. The bodywork is smooth, with no prominent grille on the front end.NissanThe Urban SUV's headlights look like an evolution of the front end of the NX8, an electric and PHEV SUV sold in China, and the rear end has a large spoiler and horizontal LED lights that span the width of the car. Nissan says production versions of both concepts will be shown within the next year, and there are also plans to unveil three more PHEV or electric models in China in the same timeframe. NissanWhile Chinese market vehicles typically have little relevance for customers in the United States, there's a chance that this Terrano PHEV has some relation to Nissan's upcoming family of body-on-frame SUVs, which include a new Xterra and Pathfinder. "Under our vision, China is not only a highly competitive domestic market but also a source of innovation, enabling us to create new value and experiences for customers in China and in the global markets," said Ivan Espinosa, Nissan's president and CEO. It's possible the Terrano previews what will become the next-generation Pathfinder, but we'll just have to wait and see.More Off-Road Nissans➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
