Nissan is speculated to be working on a new ultra-affordable electric model that would rival the Dacia Spring and Citroen e-C3 while looking like one of their most popular models.
The model, which has already been nicknamed by some as the ‘Baby Juke’, will use the Japanese company’s current links with Renault as the basis of the underpinnings and feature the body of a compact crossover, much like the larger Nissan Juke.
Speaking to the motoring publication Auto Express, Philippe Brunet, Powertrain and EV Engineering Boss for Renault Group’s electric vehicle development firm Ampere, highlighted that the model will use the same platform as the upcoming Twingo E-Tech.
He explained: “We are reusing the Ampere Small platform where we have changed the wheelbase: the car is less than four metres long.
“This is the same e-architecture, and we redeveloped the battery, [add a] new e-powertrain, and the top hat (new body). We did this in two years.”
Much like the Renault Twingo E-Tech, which is due to be launched in 2026, the upcoming Nissan EV will feature a lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) battery, which are safer and more durable than the power packs that currently feature in most EVs, and is set to feature a starting price of under £20,000.
The new model will also be built alongside the Twingo in Renault Group’s factory in Novo Mesto, Slovenia – a location likely chosen over China in a bid to avoid tariffs in key markets, such as Europe.
However, unlike the Renault Twingo, Nissan’s entry-level EV will likely offer a design somewhat similar to the Dacia Spring, currently the cheapest electric car sold in the UK.
Whilst Nissan has not shared any information about what their ultra-cheap electric car will look like, many have speculated that it will feature rugged design language inspired by their current range of crossovers, such as the Juke and Qashqai.
As a result, the model will likely offer a boxy appearance with a squared-off front end and an increased ride height compared to rivals, such as the Citroen e-C3 and upcoming Volkswagen ID.1.
Compared to the little Dacia, the Nissan will likely offer more power, with some estimating that it will be made with the same 94 and 112bhp electric motors currently found in the Renault 5 E-Tech, in addition to a range of around 200 miles per charge.
