Well, this is a little unexpected. Nissan has revealed the first images of a slew of new cars coming over the next couple of years, including the new X-Trail. The fifth-generation family SUV – which remains hugely important for the company, with nearly ten million units sold globally – will continue to utilise the Japanese carmaker’s e-Power hybrid powertrain, extended to the US-market Rogue for the first time. Not much in the way of details have been released just yet, but these 3D renders show an edgy (literally) design that draws inspiration from the latest Murano and Leaf. The bonnet and bumper shutlines criss-cross the front end to create an X shape, with the headlights and grille forming a black mask-like graphic, similar to the Seat Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra from way back when. The inverted L-shaped lamps feature a slim upper section housing the main projectors, joined together by a strip above the grille. Meanwhile, the five-a-side daytime running lights are integrated into the large grille with hexagonal inserts, which also houses the Nissan badge that appears to be illuminated. Along the side, the six-sided motif continues with D-pillar pattern and the diagonal slashes on the front and rear doors, the latter combining with the window shape to form a giant hexagon. Just like on the current model, the taillights – which come with illuminated rectangles arranged in an L shape – are visually connected to the rear windscreen. The whole look is finished off by two-tone wheels with a tessellated pattern, arranged to form (you guessed it) yet more hexagons. We expect the new X-Trail to feature the latest third-generation e-Power system, first seen on the Qashqai last year. This utilises a bespoke 1.5 litre turbo three-cylinder petrol engine that is said to be quieter and more efficient than the old unit – despite ditching the VC-Turbo variable compression technology that has been a headache to homologate for markets with relatively lower-quality fuel such as Malaysia. The combustion mill juices a new, more powerful 205 PS five-to-one modular electric motor, and despite an identical 21.5 kWh capacity for the battery, Nissan claims a 16% reduction in real-world fuel consumption and a 14% reduction in highway driving. This leads to a total range of 1,200 km in the case of the Qashqai. As before, the X-Trail will be offered with an e-4ORCE all-wheel drive system, with a second motor driving the rear wheels, as well as ProPilot semi-autonomous driving functionality. The new X-Trail is part of Nissan’s new product strategy that will see it streamline its portfolio from 56 models to 45 to speed up development. Hopefully this will mean a faster product rollout as well – the preceding fourth-gen X-Trail hasn’t even made it to all markets it was supposed to be sold in, like ours, despite being revealed nearly six years ago. Compare prices between different insurer providers to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services. Many payment method supported and you can pay with instalment using Atome, Grab PayLater or Shopee SPayLater. Use the promo code 'PAULTAN' when you checkout for 10% discount!