Mitsubishi Xpander to become the 2020 Nissan Livina?

MANILA: No matter how hard the automakers try to keep their upcoming projects a secret, the news spreads like a forest fire courtesy the holes in our automobile industry which never stop leaking.

The Nissan Grand Livina was not short on any grounds and enjoyed a fair bit of success during its days. So much so that even the other players in the automotive industry have also entered into the segment and the competition has become cutthroat. With that being said, the 2020 Nissan Livina is set to step on the podium sooner than later.

Images of what should be the 2020 Nissan Livina have surfaced on the internet. And guess what? The MPV will be a rebadged Mitsubishi Xpander. Surprised? Be not. The speculations about the same have been made ever since 2017, and the final results have started to show. The rebadging is all thanks to the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance.

The images showcasing the new Nissan Livina have the rear, side and a little of the front exposed. To our ease, the MPV was not wearing any camouflage at all. While the base of the new Livina is the Xpander, there are slight changes made by Nissan to give its MPV a distinct appearance.

The LED DRLs on top of the chunky headlamps reveal the Xpander base. However, the chunky headlamp units are a little different than those of the Xpander. The front bumper also features a lot more curves than seen on the Xpander.

Talking more about the front profile, Mitsubishi’s Dynamic Shield grille has made way for Nissan’s V-Motion unit. From the sides, there aren't any differences between a standard Xpander and this to-be Livina. On the rear, however, the taillamps are smoked units, and there is also a black panel resting on the tailgate.

While there is no information about the mechanicals of the MPV yet, the 1.5-litre motor found inside the Xpander is expected to make its way on the Nissan Livina. In case Nissan decides to launch the new Livina here in the Philippines, the in-house rivalry between the Livina and the Xpander will be interesting to witness.

Also Read:- Nissan Philippines awards its best technicians in NISTEC-NISAC competition