Following the Dacia Spring, which sits on the Renault Twingo platform, a third vehicle will use the same technical base for the electric city car badge from Renault. The Renault Group leverages its brands and partners to maximize returns on its investments in the electric-vehicle market, a strategy meant to help lower car prices for consumers. The name of the third model that will ride this platform has now been revealed.
The Return of a Familiar Name
It’s the Japanese automaker that will benefit from a Renault platform for a new electric model, just as it did with the new Micra. And being pragmatic, Nissan reuses names that resonate with the general public for its new electric models. There has been a revival of the Micra, and now comes the revival of the Pixo. Indeed, that is the name Nissan has chosen for its A-segment city car, clearly referencing the tiny internal-combustion model that disappeared a few years ago.
The introduction of this model, the Nissan Pixo EV, is nearing. Even though Nissan has not released official visuals for the car, the launch date is known: September 23. Another novelty in a busy fall where all automakers want to unveil or arrange test drives of their vehicle before the Paris Motor Show.
A Specs Sheet That Might Already Be Known?
Logically, the Nissan Pixo should borrow the technical specifications from the Renault Twingo and from the Dacia Spring. So expect the 27.5 kWh battery paired with an 82-horsepower motor for a range of around 155 miles. The final range will depend mainly on styling choices, which will influence the drag coefficient and thus efficiency.
It marks the long-awaited return of A-segment city cars. Automakers are developing new electric platforms, much like the Renault Twingo’s, that help lower production costs and the purchase price. These city cars are part of the democratization of electric vehicles. Brands are pooling components (batteries, motors, and European factories) to make these small vehicles profitable despite slim margins.
