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Is the Yuanye Z9 a future glimpse at the next-generation Nissan Navara?
The Chinese-made pickup was revealed in documents published to the Chinese Ministry of Information and Technology (MIIT) – translated by Carscoops – that show the boxy pickup with what appears to be Dongfeng-Nissan branding.
In China, Nissan operates as a 50:50 joint venture between Nissan and Chinese automaker Dongfeng, hence the unconventional branding. Dongfeng Nissan has sold its current-generation Navara-equivalent there since 2017, so the Yuanye Z9 fits the timeline for a refresh.
Its boxy design emulates a recent render of the next-generation Navara published by CarsGuide, and while it isn’t exactly clear whether the Yuanye Z9 will be exclusive to the Chinese market, Nissan recently announced plans to create a new mid-sized pickup for the global market.
In terms of design, the vehicle embraces the increasingly trendy boxy shape for the ute segment, with curves mostly limited to the vehicle’s edges.
It dons a strong front grille – another popular trend in the automotive industry – with imposing vertical LED headlights. The vehicle’s rear is almost completely rectangular, with a LED tail light sweeping across the entire tail gate, a rigid sports bar and roof rails, along with minimalist ‘Z9’ branding.
The vehicle appears to have a panoramic sunroof and a hard tonneau cover, while additional images show varying options of wheel designs.
According to Carscoops, the Yuanye Z9 will be offered in China with the choice of two powertrains: a 2.0-litre petrol engine with outputs of 182kW or 190kW – which presumably depends on the variant – with a top speed of 160km/h.
Alternatively, there’s a 3.0-litre diesel engine with an output of 140kW, which has a higher top speed of 170km/h.
Dimensions-wise, the Yunaye Z9 is 5520mm long, 1960mm wide, 1950mm tall with a wheelbase of 3300mm. That makes it larger in all directions than the current Navara sold in Australia, which is 5260mm long, 1850mm wide and 1810 mm tall.
The model is also 200mm longer, 95 mm wider, with an extra 170mm between the wheels over the newly released Mitsubishi Triton, suggesting that the two vehicles might not share a platform.
Nissan's Chairperson of the AMEIO Region, Guillaume Cartier, told CarsGuide earlier this month the Navara will be co-developed with Mitsubishi in accordance with the two brands strategic partnership to help lower development costs and shorten production timing.
Chinese Nissan officials have also confirmed that an upcoming pickup will be offered with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain down the line, aligning with Cartier’s statement to CarsGuide that a future Navara will maintain a diesel powertrain before being offered with a PHEV option for the Australian market.
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