Nestled in the mangrove-covered eastern shores of the Red Sea, 520km south of Cairo in Egypt, the sleepy resort town of El Gouna played host to the Nissan Africa Red SUV Drive event, where delegates from Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt and South Africa came together to drive several Nissan models, experience the latest tech and innovations and find out what the Japanese automaker has in store for 2026.
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Executives from Nissan Africa would outline the model lineup for each country, unveil model updates destined for specific regions, and announce brand-new models for certain areas. Although the vast majority of the information being shared was aimed squarely at the North African market, South Africa would be the beneficiary of some very lucrative and vital information. The two-day event was not only an information-sharing session and model launch but also an opportunity to drive some of these new models.
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Model plans
The first evening of the event was a white-tie party, where Nissan executives unveiled the product strategy for the African continent. Jordi Vila, President of Nissan Africa, announced the model rollout for various countries, detailing which countries would receive which models and which updates. South Africa was confirmed to be getting the new Nissan Patrol, with unconfirmed dates around late 2026 or early 2027. The updated X-Trail and potentially the e-power derivative were also added to the list for late 2026, as well as a South Africa-only compact SUV. We were also introduced to the new third-generation Nissan Qashqai, featuring its e-power drivetrain, and the updated Nissan Juke.
Nissan Tekton
The big news for South African consumers is that South Africa will be the sole beneficiary on the African continent of the brand-new Nissan Tekton compact SUV. The Tekton is an upcoming compact SUV scheduled to launch in 2026, built on the same platform as the Renault Duster and positioned above the Magnite in Nissan's lineup. It will feature styling inspired by the larger Nissan Patrol, with C-shaped headlights and a prominent grille upfront, as well as LED taillights and an LED light bar that runs the width of the tailgate at the rear.
The Tekton is expected to compete in the C-SUV segment against vehicles like the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. Nissan has been rather tight-lipped about a rollout date or what we can expect engine-wise, so we will have to wait and see what the Chennai, India, built machine will comprise once it arrives.
Desert drive
The second day of the event featured a multi-route drive experience, which took us on several set routes through the desert. Beginning with a jaunt in the updated Nissan Juke, which unfortunately is not coming to SA, we then switched over to the Nissan X-Trail of which the e-power derivative is under consideration for our market for a bit, before climbing into the new third-gen e-Power Qashqai, which was truly a highlight. The Qashqai is under consideration for SA, but it will likely not be coming due to cost constraints, which is very disappointing because it is such a phenomenal vehicle. One can understand the cost analysis, as it would be competing with other NEV vehicles from Chinese manufacturers in SA, making it a tough sell in an already crowded market.
The highlight of the drive was, of course, a blast through the dunes in the new 3.5L twin-turbo V6 Nissan Patrol. There were only two models available to drive, so time was limited, but we made the most of our session. The Patrol isn't new, as it has been available in other markets since late 2024; however, for many different markets, such as ours, the Patrol will be completely new. It will be a completely redesigned SUV (Y63 generation) featuring a new twin-turbo V6 engine, a more modern and aggressive exterior design, and an upgraded interior with features like dual rear-seat displays and a 12-speaker Klipsch audio system. Upfront, there is a large V-motion grille, blocky, squared-off elements for an aggressive look, and new C-shaped LED headlights and bold taillights.
Under the bonnet is a monstrous 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine. In the two derivatives we tested that day, there was a base model that delivered 300kW and 650 Nm, while the LE spec model had the more powerful Nismo engine, which produces 370kW and 700 Nm. Ride comfort is ensured by a self-adjusting air suspension that absorbs bumps and undulations. At the same time, the interior is a masterclass in luxury, featuring plush, cherry-red leather and body-sensing climate control. Nissan indicated that we could expect the Patrol in late 2026, but be prepared for a potential delivery in 2027.
That's a wrap
The Red Sea SUV drive was an incredible event, allowing us not only to see and interact with new products and technology, gather industry information, and socialise with fellow motoring journalists from other countries, but also to pose some questions to Nissan executives who are usually not available for comment. Unfortunately, many of the questions we had around product consideration, arrival times and vehicle specs, as well as the new Navara and the future of the Rosslyn plant, could not be answered or, at the very least, could not be commented on at the event, we do know that Nissan has a plan and remains committed to the continent and South Africa as a whole and are excited to see the new Tekton and cant wait to drive the Patrol again!
