If you followed Motor1 over the last few weeks, you know we were busy. After a 14-hour flight, I landed in Yokohama ready to dig into Nissan’s future plans. The company brought out much of its senior leadership team, including CEO Ivan Espinosa, who walked us through what’s ahead over the next five years and beyond.
There’s still plenty I can’t share yet—some very exciting stuff. But from off-roaders and sedans to sports cars and family SUVs, Nissan didn’t exactly hold much back in this early first glimpse. Here’s what we learned.
AI Is Here, Like It Or Not
Nissan is going all in on AI. The company introduced its new “AI Drive” technology and plans to roll it out aggressively over the next several years. That includes pairing it with its existing ProPilot system, with the long-term goal of achieving full hands-free driving.
While in Japan, Nissan gave us a preview of the system in action. Riding in the back of an Ariya equipped with 11 cameras, five radar units, and a roof-mounted LiDAR, the car navigated some of Tokyo’s busiest streets entirely hands-free. The experience was unremarkable—in the best way.
In the near future, Nissan will partner with Uber on a fleet of autonomous taxis in Tokyo, with plans to eventually bring the technology to consumer vehicles. The company says up to 90 percent of its future lineup will feature some form of the system.
Cheap Cars Still Have A Place
Affordable cars are mostly gone in the US—and by that, we mean anything under $30,000. The Nissan Versa was one of the last holdouts, but it too recently exited the US market. According to CEO Ivan Espinosa, tariffs played a major role.
"There is demand," he said. "The question is how to get to the right price in this context." For now, models like the Kicks and Sentra remain Nissan’s entry-level options in the US, but a true sub-$20K replacement for the Versa looks unlikely. At least, for now.
CVTs Still Make Sense... To An Extent
Nissan’s CVT reputation is well documented, but the company isn’t walking away from the technology entirely. Espinosa says CVTs still make sense in smaller, economy-focused cars.
However, they’re being phased out of larger vehicles like the Murano and Pathfinder in favor of traditional automatics. And performance applications are off the table entirely. "I’m not gonna put a CVT in a Skyline," Espinosa said.
Finally, A Hybrid Rogue
Nissan has been slow to hybrid adoption in the US, but that’s finally changing. A new Rogue hybrid is finally on the way, using the company’s third-generation E-Power system.
Unlike a traditional hybrid, E-Power uses a gas engine strictly as an onboard generator. Only the electric motors drive the wheels, making it closer in concept to a range-extended EV. The engine is a brand-new 1.5-liter three-cylinder design, though Nissan hasn’t yet released power or efficiency figures. Still, this marks a major shift for one of its most important global nameplates.
Infiniti's Manual Performance Sedan Is Coming
Infiniti is developing a new performance sedan with a manual transmission, and it’s coming relatively soon. The company says it will deliver "high horsepower," likely in the 400-hp range or higher. More details are expected later this year.
New Skyline—But Not For America
Nissan is also preparing a new four-door Skyline, which the company says will be "inspired by the past." However, it won’t come to the US. Instead, its closest American equivalent will likely arrive under the Infiniti badge as the new manual performance sedan.
Return Of The Silvia?
The Silvia name has long been rumored for a comeback, and Nissan executives didn’t exactly shut the door on it. Richard Candler, Nissan’s global head of product strategy, said the company is actively exploring a new sports car lineup.
"The first car I ever bought was a Silvia," he said. "I’d love to bring back that nameplate. There’s still space for it—we just need the right solution." Nothing is confirmed, but the idea is clearly alive inside Nissan.
The Next GT-R Won't Be Electric
The next-generation R36 won’t be electric, but it will be a hybrid, preserving combustion power in some form while meeting global emissions requirements. Nissan execs were adamant: "No EV GT-R." Performance remains the priority, even as electrification becomes unavoidable. We still won’t see the new R36 for a few years, unfortunately.
The Xterra Is Back
The Nissan Xterra is returning as a body-on-frame, off-road-focused SUV aimed at rebuilding the brand’s rugged identity. It will reportedly start under $40,000 and keep its V6 engine, though some form of hybrid assistance is expected. A manual transmission, however, is not in the cards.
Trimming The Lineup
Nissan is also making a major internal reset. CEO Ivan Espinosa confirmed the company will reduce its global lineup from 56 to 45 models. The goal is simple: focus only on profitable, high-impact vehicles.
The US market is expected to see relatively minor cuts, though some models—like the Rogue PHEV—could be on the chopping block. Future vehicles will fall into four categories: Heartbeat, Core, Growth, and Partner. That includes everything from mainstream models like the Sentra to enthusiast-focused projects like the Xterra and Skyline.
