FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Nissan's next X-TRAIL

Nissan has revealed a redesigned X-TRAIL – complete with seven seats for the first time – at today’s Frankfurt motor show opening, less than six months before it goes on sale in Australia in the first quarter of next year.

Spied in testing numerous times, the all-new X-TRAIL was previewed by a teaser image last month, when we mistook it for Nissan’s next-generation Dualis.

The new Dualis, in fact, will make its global debut in November – at either the Tokyo or Los Angeles motor shows, which open simultaneously on November 20 – and, unlike the model it replaces, will not be available with seven seats – effectively representing a role reversal for two models.

Codenamed P32S, Nissan’s next Dualis will go on sale in Australia by mid-2014, just a few months after the P32R X-TRAIL, which itself will closely follow the local launch of the compact Juke crossover and the large Pathfinder SUV around October this year.

Priced from about $20,000 to compete with an array of new city-SUVs like the Holden Trax and upcoming Ford EcoSport, the Juke will be available here with turbocharged and naturally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engines, 2WD and AWD configurations and manual and SVT transmissions.

The all-new monocoque-chassis Pathfinder, meantime, will replace the utilitarian existing model powered only by a 3.5-litre petrol V6 and, later, a supercharged 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain. The Murano, meantime, will continue to be positioned as a luxury five-seat alternative to the Pathfinder seven-seater, also priced from under $50,000.

As for the new X-TRAIL, which will continue to be positioned between the Dualis and Pathie priced from around $30,000, the vehicle that debuted at Frankfurt was the US-market Rogue, which motoring.com.au understands is 80 per cent similar to the model we’ll see here early next year.

Both models will debut the Nissan/Renault Alliance’s new jointly-developed Common Module Family (CMF) platform architecture, which is said to significantly reduce production costs. Together, the X-TRAIL/Rogue will be sold in a total of 190 countries globally by mid-2014, and are expected to make a significant contribution to the company’s mid-term (2011-2016) business plan, Nissan Power 88.

Nissan makes no bones about the disappearance of the current X-TRAIL’s boxy shape in favour of a more organic silhouette for the new model. “In place of the rugged, squared-off lines of the previous generation, new X-TRAIL has a premium and dynamic appearance,” it says.

Instead of straight lines, the mid-size wagon’s more rounded profile features elegant curves, but the characteristic D-pillar shape and trademark SUV features like high wheel-arches continue, in tandem with new design cues like ‘boomerang’ tail-lights and “structured” headlights with LED daytime running lamps.

LED headlights – for both high and low beams – will be standard on high-grade models, which should also be available with the show car’s 19-inch alloy wheels and premium interior features like chrome, geometric metallic and piano black finishes.

Nissan says other options will include sophisticated cloth fabric and full leather trim with contrasting stitching for all seven theatre-style seats, including the optional folding third row.

The longer wheelbase and more heavily sculpted front seatbacks are claimed to increase knee room for middle-row passengers, who will also benefit from seats that recline and slide.

Other new details include rear side doors that open to almost 80 degrees to make ingress/egress easier, a front console box that Nissan says is large enough to house an iPad and a cargo area that can be portioned into upper and lower areas with one hand, via a board that can hold up to 10kg in its top position, or 75kg in its lowest position.

New connectivity solutions include a suite of new in-car navigation, information and entertainment systems under the banner of NissanConnect, which will offer access to a projected range of music, social networking, entertainment and travel apps via a seven-inch colour touch-screen, as well as Google-supported sat-nav and the usual Bluetooth audio streaming and mobile phone integration.

The driver’s instrument panel will also feature a five-inch TFT colour display incorporating up to 12 graphic displays including average and actual speeds, turn-by-turn navigation instructions, audio content, traffic sign recognition, eco driving advice and torque distribution settings in 4WD mode.

Little mechanical information has been announced, Nissan saying only the new X-TRAIL will adopt its advanced electronic four-wheel drive system, ALL MODE 4x4i, which is controlled via a rotary switch on the centre console and offers a choice between two-wheel drive, Auto or permanent four-wheel drive Lock modes. The default setting is Auto, in which torque is distributed between front and rear axles as needed at speeds of up to 80km/h, above which the system shifts drive rearwards in response to front wheel spin.

Nissan says that of the X-TRAIL’s four key electronic systems, two are world-firsts (Active Ride Control and Active Engine Brake) and a third (Active Trace Control) is currently found on the Infiniti M sedan.

ARC “monitors the road surface to detect undulations which could potentially upset the pitch of the car body and alters the damping to compensate”, while AEB “harnesses the power and controllability of the Xtronic transmission to add a degree of engine braking while cornering or when decelerating to a standstill”, resulting in greater braking control and enhanced brake feel and less braking effort.

ACC uses onboard sensors to monitor speed, steering angle, throttle opening and braking effort, and then brake wheels individually as required to reduce understeer. In the new X-TRAIL, these features will be supported by Uphill Start Support and Advance Hill Descent Control.

Nissan says it targeted class-leading refinement and efficiency with the new X-TRAIL, in part with a thorough weight-saving program to offset the new model’s larger surface area. Examples are a mostly-plastic tailgate that is 7kg lighter.

Apart from the slipperier overall shape, which was previewed by Nissan’s Hi-Cross concept, aerodynamic measures include carefully shaped door mirrors and a spoiler that covers the exhaust box and rear panel. If the Hi-Cross was any guide, the new X-TRAIL will be 25mm longer, 60mm wider and 30mm lower than the model it replaces, while the wheelbase will be 150mm longer.

No powertrain details have been revealed, Nissan saying only that “Engineering innovation will also allow new X-TRAIL to lead its class in terms of engine efficiency thanks to downsizing. By reducing power-sapping friction in its drivetrains, new X-TRAIL provides excellent performance from the latest generation of downsized engines, providing the pace of a bigger powerplant with the economy and emissions of a smaller one.”

However, we expect the X-TRAIL to continue with heavily reworked versions of the current model’s 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engines, plus a significantly updated 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.

Here's the full run down on the latest news from Frankfurt motor show

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