Nissan PIXO: the affordable electric car sibling to the Dacia Spring and Renault Twingo now has a launch date
Nissan has officially confirmed the launch of a new electric city car in Europe: the PIXO. The unveiling of this model will take place on September 23rd, marking the Japanese brand’s return to the A-segment, a category it had left since the discontinuation of the original Pixo gasoline model, which was available from 2009 to 2013.
The press release is quite brief, as the technical specifications of this new vehicle will be revealed at its debut. “Small yet full of personality, the PIXO is the latest addition to Nissan’s expanding range of electric vehicles. Designed for modern urban life, it combines compact dimensions with intuitive technology and a distinctive Nissan design, making city driving easy and enjoyable.”
It’s no secret that the new Nissan PIXO will be based on the already well-known Renault Twingo and Dacia Spring, with all three models being produced at Renault’s plant in Novo Mesto (Slovenia). This means it will use Renault’s RGEV Small platform, and it’s highly likely—indeed, almost certain—that it will feature exactly the same powertrain as its siblings.
Therefore, the Nissan PIXO is likely to be equipped with an 82 HP (60 kW) electric motor paired with a 27.5 kWh LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) battery. Its range should be similar to that of the Twingo, which has a maximum WLTP range of 263 km (the Spring comes in at 250 km WLTP, likely due to aerodynamic factors).
The new PIXO will mark Nissan’s return to the A segment
While Dacia has sought to radically differentiate the Spring’s aesthetics from the Twingo’s distinctive design, abandoning its recognizable monovolume silhouette in favor of a crossover format, the first spy photos of the PIXO suggest that, as was the case with the R5/Micra duo before it, Nissan’s approach will be quite similar to Renault’s.
The PIXO will join an electric lineup that already includes the Micra, Juke, LEAF, and Ariya, completing it at the lower end. Recent reports indicate that Nissan may have halted development on the electric Qashqai, meaning that after the wave of new models in recent years, the arrival of the PIXO could mark the end of this cycle of renewal.
The return of the Nissan PIXO is the latest example of the revival that the European A-segment is experiencing thanks to electric mobility. Its main competitors include the BYD Dolphin Surf and Leapmotor T03, as well as the upcoming Citroën 2CV, FIAT Panda electric, and Volkswagen ID. Up. The first two will arrive in 2028, while the third is scheduled for 2027.
Source | Nissan