Camouflaged prototypes may hint at the next addition to Nissan’s N family, developed in partnership with Dongfeng
- Spy shots from China suggest Nissan and Dongfeng are developing a new electrified SUV.
- The prototype features split LED lights and a closed grille similar to the Nissan N6 sedan.
- It may be called the Nissan N8 and offer EV or range-extender powertrain configurations.
Nissan’s growing partnership with Dongfeng is quickly reshaping its EV lineup in China. After the N7 sedan recently became the country’s top-selling foreign-brand electric car and its upcoming global rollout, the company already has the N6 plug-in hybrid sedan on the way. Now it seems the lineup will stretch even further with the addition of a new SUV.
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Camouflaged prototypes testing in China suggest a model that may stand apart from Nissan’s current SUV range. Instead of linking back to familiar nameplates, this appears to be the next member of the N series family developed alongside Dongfeng, joining the N6 and N7 sedans.
Early Glimpse in Spy Shots
The spy shots shared across Chinese social media, reveal two prototypes of a midsize electrified SUV. They show two prototypes of what looks like a midsize electrified SUV. The vehicles don’t have any emblems, and their bodywork is fully covered in a camouflage wrap.
Although the profile appears fairly conventional, the split LED headlights and closed-off grille resemble the styling of the Nissan N6 sedan. At the rear, temporary taillights are in place, likely to be replaced by a full-width LED light bar on the production model. Other details include flush door handles, frameless windows, a roof-mounted LiDAR unit, and side-mounted camera sensors.
According to user Sugar Design, the prototypes share some resemblance with the Dongfeng Yipai eπ 008 introduced in 2024, though the body panels and greenhouse differ. Given the close partnership between Dongfeng and Nissan, however, a mechanical connection between the two models remains a strong possibility.
Sugar Design / Weibo
Size and Powertrain Clues
The Dongfeng Yipai eπ 008 measures 5,002 mm (196.9 inches) long and has a wheelbase of 3,025 mm (119.1 inches), although the pictured prototypes appear to have less room between the axles. The camouflaged SUVs appear to have two rows of seats, instead of the three-row six-seater layout of the Dongfeng.
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While we don’t know if the models will share their underpinnings and powertrain options, the Dongfeng is available in fully electric and range-extender forms. The BEV is fitted with an 82.3 kWh battery pack offering a range of up to 620 km (385 miles). The EREV version has a combined range of 1,220 km (758 miles) and a zero-emission range of 202 km (126 miles).
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The upcoming Nissan SUV may carry the N8 nameplate, though the company has also secured trademarks for N9 and N10 to cover larger models. With the prototypes already showing production-ready styling, a market launch in China could be only a few months away. In the meantime, additional details may surface through filings with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Whether this SUV stays exclusive to China or joins Nissan’s export lineup remains to be seen, but it marks another step in the brand’s steady expansion of the N series beyond sedans.
Dongfeng Yipai 008