The Nissan Hi-Cross Concept has been unveiled at the Geneva motor show, giving a glimpse of what the next-generation Nissan X-Trail is expected to look like.
The Hi-Cross Concept is a hybrid at its core, making use of Nissan LEAF’s battery and electric drive technology coupled with a 2.0-litre direct-injection petrol engine, which Nissan says combines to bring the performance of a 2.5-litre but without the fuel consumption and emission constraints.
Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President, Nissan said: “Nissan created the crossover segment with Murano and has expanded the genre with top selling cars like Qashqai and Juke. Hi-Cross Concept shows we are not sitting still, resting on our laurels, but exploring ways of cementing our crossover leadership by exploring new ideas.”
Unlike the current X-Trail which boasts credible four-wheel-driving credentials, the Hi-Cross is likely to have been developed primarily for city driving. The concept’s drivetrain is in fact based on technology developed for front-wheel-drive models, but customised to provide four-wheel drive. It’s linked up to Nissan’s new generation XTRONIC continuously variable transmission (CVT).
From the outside the Hi-Cross’s design is a substantial step away from the current X-Trail, with sharp modern lines and a much cleaner, bolder look. It conveys a lot of similarities to the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder.
Little else is known about the Hi-Cross’s future potential but given its size and target segment, we highly suspect that it will form the underpinnings of the next-generation Nissan X-Trail.
Check out the gallery for more pictures.