We’ve discovered a trademark filed by Nissan filed with United States Patent and Trademark Office for the name e-Trail, and it could be just what Nissan is missing in its portfolio.
Embattled Japanese automaker Nissan needs to turn its financial situation around, and soon. In fact, its proposed merger with Honda hinges on its ability to become an efficiently run business, and new products could be key.
We’ve Seen A Similar Name Before
Sold in America as the Nissan Rogue, the X-Trail was a product of the early 2000s. Since 2018, it’s been positioned between the smaller Qashqai and larger Murano, but when the third generation arrived in 2013, it did so on the same platform as the Qashqai. It also adopted some of that model’s softer lines.
The current T33 fourth-gen is a bit boxier and bigger once more, and while it’s a popular vehicle, it’s not built to be an EV. The most efficient powertrain on offer is a small hybrid, but the new filing for the name e-Trail means something cleaner yet could be on the way.
What It Could Be Like
We imagine that the Nissan Ariya electric SUV would play at least a small part, with its e-4ORCE technology. Exactly what part remains to be seen, and it’s unclear if the e-Trail would retain the X-Trail’s place in the market or morph into something else entirely. After all, the name does call to mind off-road adventure. What we do know is that Nissan is turning the Leaf nameplate into something new: an electric crossover. With that in mind, could the e-Trail be the middle child between the upcoming Leaf and the existing Ariya? Time will tell, but with so few electric products in its current lineup, Nissan is surely considering all options.
