Nissan has been on a roll this week, and it doesn't look like the automaker is slowing down anytime soon. In the span of just a few days, the company has teased the return of the beloved Xterra, revealed an electric version of the Juke, previewed the next-generation Skyline, and shown off a refreshed Rogue. Now, with the Beijing Auto Show set to open its doors on April 24, Nissan is adding two more vehicles to the conversation — this time in the form of a pair of concepts.
The company hasn't shared a whole lot of details yet, but the images it released are doing plenty of talking on their own. And of the two teasers dropped, one is standing out above the rest.
The Off-Roader Everyone Is Talking About
The concept sitting on the left side of the teaser image is the one drawing the most attention, and it's not hard to see why. This thing looks built for business. It's riding on a lifted suspension with meaty all-terrain tires, the kind that signal this vehicle means to go places where pavement is just a suggestion. Auxiliary lights are mounted on both the hood and the roof, and a roof rack appears to be tucked into the shadows of the image, hinting at serious overland capability.
Nissan has trimmed the corners of the front bumper to improve the approach angle — a detail that off-road enthusiasts will immediately recognize as intentional and functional, not just cosmetic. Marker lights have been mounted on all four fenders, adding to the utilitarian look that feels both purposeful and rugged.
The front of the vehicle features five glowing rectangles in its lighting design, a detail that's drawing comparisons to the Frontier Pro — a plug-in hybrid truck that Nissan introduced in China last year through its partnership with Dongfeng. That truck, known more formally as a derivative of the Nissan Dongfeng Z9, isn't purely an in-house effort, but it made waves as a capable electrified pickup. Whether this new concept shares any mechanical DNA with that truck remains unclear, but the visual similarities are hard to ignore.
What's Under the Hood?
Nissan hasn't confirmed what powers this off-road concept, but the expectation is that some form of electrification is on the table. The choices would likely come down to either a plug-in hybrid setup or a full battery-electric powertrain. Given the direction the industry is heading, and given Nissan's stated push to expand its New Energy Vehicle lineup — which covers both plug-in hybrids and fully electric models — neither option would come as a surprise.
One small but telling detail worth noting: the concept appears to use conventional side mirror caps rather than cameras. In many markets, replacing mirrors with cameras is still a regulatory hurdle, and using traditional mirrors suggests this vehicle could have a real shot at production. That's not a guarantee, but it's an encouraging sign for anyone hoping to see this thing show up at a dealership someday.
The Second Concept
The other vehicle in the teaser is taking a very different direction. Where the off-roader is rough and ready, this second concept is clearly aimed at on-road use. Its LED signature is reminiscent of Nissan's new Leaf, giving it a more polished, tech-forward look. The concept also wears the brand's logo rather than spelled-out lettering, which is a distinction from its off-road counterpart.
Perhaps the most intriguing element is what appears to be a protrusion on the roof of this second concept — likely housing LiDAR or a camera array for an advanced autonomous driving system. If that's the case, Nissan may be previewing some serious self-driving ambitions alongside its design refresh.
China's Growing Role in Nissan's Strategy
The timing of these reveals is no coincidence. When Nissan laid out its long-term business plan earlier this week, China was identified as one of three major markets the company is focusing on, alongside Japan and the United States. A key pillar of that strategy is growing the New Energy Vehicle lineup, and the company is clearly leaning on its partnerships in China to help make that happen faster and at lower cost in a market that is as competitive as any in the world.
What's important to understand, though, is that what gets developed in China isn't necessarily staying in China. The Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid, for example, is slated for export to the Middle East, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Nissan's N7 large electric sedan, which launched in late 2024, is also heading to those same regions. The implication is clear: vehicles born from China-based development can — and do — find their way to a much wider global audience.
Could This Be the Global Off-Roader Nissan Fans Have Been Waiting For?
Here's where things get interesting for American truck and SUV buyers who have been keeping one eye on what Nissan is doing. The off-road concept has a boxy, upright shape and a rugged presence that immediately invites comparisons to the Xterra — the beloved SUV that Nissan discontinued after 2015. With the Xterra's return already being teased for the American market, the question now is whether this Beijing concept is something separate entirely, or whether it could represent a global go-anywhere SUV that sits alongside the revived Xterra rather than beneath it.
The prominent Nissan lettering across the front of the off-road concept is an interesting choice. It's bold and straightforward, the kind of branding move a company makes when it wants people to know exactly who built the thing. Whether a name like Xterra or something new ends up on the tailgate remains to be seen.
What Comes Next
The full reveal is set for April 24, when Nissan pulls the covers off both concepts at the Beijing Auto Show. At that point, the company will presumably share more about what these vehicles represent — whether they're flights of design fancy or genuine previews of what's coming to market.
For now, the off-road concept in particular is the kind of thing that hasn't been seen from Nissan in a while: a rugged, capable-looking machine that feels relevant in a truck and SUV market that Americans continue to embrace in massive numbers. If Nissan can deliver on what this teaser is promising — especially with an electrified powertrain that doesn't sacrifice real-world capability — it would represent a meaningful step forward for a brand that has had its share of struggles in recent years.
The Beijing stage is set. April 24 can't come soon enough.
