Potential Pathfinder replacement revealed

Nissan's Chinese partner, Dongfeng, is rolling a new tough-looking SUV off the production line in China.. Dubbed the X700, this new rig hasn't spawned from the Dongfeng-Nissan partnership, but Dongfeng's tough M-Hero sub-brand.. It shows just what the Chinese giant has in its arsenal that it could share with the wider motoring world, and it could plug a mighty big hole in Nissan's line-up left by the departed Pathfinder large SUV..

It is a big, butch SUV that looks more like a rough-and-tumble off-roader than a family-hauler.. Boxy styling is complemented by chunky guards that run along the bottom of the vehicle, black wheels and side-hinged tailgate with spare wheel-like storage box on the tailgate.. It may look like it can handle some tough trails, but it is more suited to gravel tracks and urban commutes..

The X700  has ditched the ladder frame that underpins other M-Hero vehicles and uses monocoque underpinnings that is better suited to SUVs.. Sophisticated multilink rear suspension paired with double wish-bone suspension up front, along with dual-chamber air suspension means it will be better at smoothing out pockmarked streets than rock-hopping.. It is a big unit, measuring 5035mm long, 1999mm wide, 1890mm tall with a wheelbase of 2920mm..

Under the bonnet is a plug-in hybrid set-up that pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with two electric motors for a combined 405kW sent to all four wheels.. This allows it to spring to 100km/h in less than five seconds.. In China it comes with two battery options, a circa-51kWh or 68kWh unit that deliver an electric driving range of 285km and 360km, respectively..

Both of the driving ranges are calculated by the more lenient Chinese test cycle.. Nissan has confirmed the Nissan Navara Pro plug-in hybrid ute is coming to Australia next year, which is based on the Dongfeng Z9.. But more are coming, according to Nissan Australia boss Steve Milette..

"There's a lot of vehicles that were revealed at the Auto China [motor show this year]," he said.. "I mean, we have our hand up for many of those and it's just a matter of going through the proper business cases, just like we went through on the Navara Pro PHEV, but there definitely is a need for us to continue down the electrification of our portfolio and expanding the line-up and so more to come in the future." Nissan showed a range of vehicles including the NX8 electric and range-extender hybrid large SUV, Nissan Terrano PHEV concept, Nissan Urban SUV PHEV concept.. The Terrano is an SUV version of the Navara Pro PHEV and it has been caught testing in Australia already..

The Chinese EVs are likely for Australia as the company has ruled out the new Leaf and Juke electric SUVs that likely won't be price competitive if they were sold here.. Time will tell if Nissan reaches deeper into Dongfeng's portfolio to plug more gaps in its line-up..