Nissan Readying IMx-Inspired EV Crossover With 300-Mile Range

Nissan is developing a second electric vehicle for the United States, aimed at the popular compact crossover segment.

The Japanese automaker already sells the Leaf in the U.S. but it needs a new product with greater range and power, as well as updated tech to face increasing competition in the electric vehicle market.

Expected to arrive Stateside in the second half of 2021, Nissan’s new EV will be one of eight all-electric models the carmaker is planning globally in the next few years. According to Autonews, Nissan gave its U.S. dealers their first look at the EV at a meeting last month.

Citing unnamed sources who attended the meeting, the report claims the electric crossover has a 300-mile (483-kilometer) driving range and is able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in under 5 seconds. Nissan did not disclose the specifics of the battery capacity at the dealer meeting but based on the range, the crossover could feature a 75- to 85-kWh pack.

Also read: Nissan Says IMx EV Will Enter Production In A “Few Years”

Built on a new platform, the crossover is described as having the proportions of the compact Rogue. However, the dealers say the interior space is similar to the midsize Murano — likely a consequence of the efficient packaging of the electric powertrain.

One dealer who saw the vehicle told Autonews that the roomy cabin has a futuristic look that is “like nothing on the market,” with a digital dashboard devoid of physical buttons that stays hidden until the vehicle is turned on. The electric crossover should also get ProPilot 2.0, the next generation of Nissan’s semi-autonomous driving technology.

While Nissan declined to offer details about its electric crossover, the new model is said to be loosely based on the IMx Concept (pictured) that the company unveiled at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show. However, it has a shorter hood than the IMx concept, according to dealers who saw it. The carmaker is believed to bring a closer-to-production concept at the same show next month.