- Zhengzhou Nissan brings back the NV200 van with a major facelift.
- The LCV benefits from a redesigned exterior and an overhauled cabin.
- It also gains PHEV power with a Chinese launch expected in October.
Vans and light commercial vehicles usually have long lifecycles, but Nissan is pushing that idea past its usual limits with the NV200. The old workhorse is climbing out of retirement in China with a top-to-bottom overhaul, picking up a redesigned exterior, a reworked cabin, and plug-in hybrid power along the way.
Zhengzhou Nissan has dropped the first teaser of the NV200, though the van already showed its face in a batch of revealing spy shots from China. The company says it wants to collect consumer reactions to the design before the vehicle reaches showrooms later this year.
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The clearest sign of the update sits up front, where larger headlights now bracket a body-colored grille. The bumper, hood, and fenders have been resculpted too, trading the old van’s plain surfaces for sharper lines.
Autohome
Despite the big changes up front, the profile looks instantly recognizable with the same greenhouse we first laid eyes on in 2009. Still, the door handles are better integrated, the side windows finally gain a roll-down function and the alloy wheels are new. At the back changes are limited to fresh LED taillight graphics, a revised rear bumper and a new piece of horizontal trim on the tailgate.
The interior undergoes an even more radical transformation, with a much-needed technology boost. The dashboard has a new layout with a much larger free-standing infotainment display and a small digital instrument cluster. We can also see a two-spoke steering wheel with integrated buttons and a modern center console.
Plug-In Hybrid Setup
Despite the notable upgrades inside and out, the big news is what lies under the hood. The naturally-aspirated 1.6-liter engine of the previous version gives way to a more advanced plug-in hybrid powertrain option. This is expected to be joined by a traditional non-electrified 2.0-liter engine for professional use.
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The reborn NV200 is expected to launch in October, with production being handled locally by Zhengzhou Nissan. While the updated LCV is focused in China, the automaker might export it to other markets in the future, following the example of Chinese-built passenger vehicles.
