The model code of all-new Nissan Versa 2027 in Mexico is likely N19, will it be launched outside LATAM region like ASEAN and Middle East?

 

In March 2026, Nissan Mexico had debuted all-new Versa (known as Almera in South East Asia, Sunny in Middle East) for model year 2027. In terms of design, except front and rear ends, the body is likely same as previous generation (N18) because it keeps the underpinnings of outgoing model.

 

Many people debate that the Nissan Versa 2026 is the 2nd facelift of N18 Versa, but some of them say that it is the all-new generation of Versa.

 

According to Nissan Mexico, Nissan Versa 2026 in Mexico is the all-new model, instead of "facelift". Based on the statement from Nissan Mexico, the model code of Nissan Versa 2026 is mostly N19. The previous generation of Nissan Versa N18 had received 1 time mid-cycle facelift in 2023 where Malaysia did not get actually.

 

Same goes to Nissan Sentra B19 which is the final generation of B1x model code series, N19 is the final generation of Nissan's N1x model code series, it was established since 1978 as Nissan Pulsar with N10. 

 

The difference between N18 and N19 are the front ends, rear ends and the interior, but both N18 and N19 are using V platform. 

 

Same as N18, Nissan Versa N19 uses HR16DE engine, meanwhile gearbox option is either CVT (continuous variable transmission) or MT (manual transmission).

 

Unlike Nissan Kicks in USA which moved from V platform to CMF-B platform, Nissan Versa/Almera does not move on to CMF-B platform like Note and Kicks because the price of Nissan Versa would be more expensive if it is based on CMF-B platform.

 

As 15th June 2026, currently Nissan Versa N19 is sold in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia, but it will be available in more Latin American countries in the near future. 

 

It is unknown yet of Nissan Versa/Almera N19 will be sold in ASEAN and Middle East. 

 

 

List of Daihatsu/Toyota based Perodua's model code

1. Kancil: L200 (based on Daihatsu Mira)

2. Kelisa: L700 (based on Daihatsu Mira)

3. Kenari: L900 (based on Daihatsu Move)

4. Rusa: S90 (based on Daihatsu Hijet)

5. Kembara: F500 (based on Daihatsu Terios)

6. Nautica: F700 (based on Daihatsu Terios)

7. Aruz: F850 (based on Daihatsu Terios)

8. Myvi

- First generation: M300/301 (based on Daihatsu Boon)

- Second generation: M602/603 (based on Daihatsu Boon)

- Third generation: M804/806

9. Alza

- First generation: M502 (based on Daihatsu Boon Luminas)

- Second generation: W151 (based on Daihatsu Xenia FWD)

10. Viva: L251

11. Axia

- First generation: B200

- Second generation: A300

12. Bezza: B300

13. Ativa: A270

14. Traz: AC200

15. QV-E: P101

The model codes are based on Daihatsu's/Toyota's model code nomenclature.

The first ever Perodua electric vehicle, QV-E obtains its model code, P101

Perodua launched its first ever electric vehicle (EV) in December 2025, known as QV-E. It is a subcompact crossover SUV.

Traditionally, each of Perodua car has its own model code which is following Daihatsu/Toyota model code nomenclature.

Regarding the model code, same nomenclature of Toyota/Daihatsu model code, Perodua QV-E is P101, meanwhile P01A is the development project code like D55L is the project code of Perodua Ativa A250.

Photos of Perodua QV-E were taken at KLIMS 2026 in Kuala Lumpur on 14th June 2026.

The all-new Nissan Atlas truck was launched in Japan on 25th September 2023, a badge engineered version of 7th generation Isuzu Elf.

Nissan launched the all-new Atlas light and medium duty truck in Japan on 25th September 2023, price from 6006000 Japanese Yen (RM 191k).

The all-new Nissan Atlas truck is a badge engineered version of 7th generation Isuzu Elf which was launched earlier in March 2023. It is powered by Isuzu 4JZ1-TCS diesel engine with 3000cc displacement, model code given is F26.

3 variant of Nissan Atlas F26 truck are offered such as light duty, medium duty and electric powered.

 

About the transmission variant, same as 7th generation Isuzu Elf , Nissan Altas F26 comes with either 9 speed DCT (Dual-Clutch transmission) or 6 speed manual. In addition, Nissan Atlas F26 is equipped with advance safety system like Isuzu Elf such as:

1. Lane Departure Warning Sytem

2. Front Blind Spot Monitor

3. Adaptive Driving Beam

4. Emergency Driving Stop System & Driver Emergency Assist System

5. Adaptive Cruise Control

6. Pre-collision Braking System

and more....

For your information, after the discontinuation of Nissan made Altas F24 in 2021, Nissan began to rebadge Isuzu truck since 2019 with F25 Altas truck.

 

The all-new Nissan Atlas F26 truck is only sold in Japan home market. For export market (including Malaysia), we will get all-new Isuzu Elf truck instead.

* Photos are courtesy of Nissan Japan.

Nissan Lannia U15 had been discontinued in China since 2022 without the successor.

Nissan launched a C-segment sedan for China market only to target Chinese post-80's young buyers, known as Lannia (藍鳥), the name given literally is Bluebird in Chinese language, but it was unrelated to discontinued model Nissan Bluebird.

Based on Nissan B platform which shared with Nissan Latio, Livina and G11 Sylphy, Nissan Lannia was powered with HR16DE naturally aspirated engine with the transmission system either 5 speed manual or CVT.

Due to poor sales in China, Nissan Lannia was discontinued in 2022 without the successor. I have visited Nissan China website, Nissan Lannia was removed from its model lineup (as 11th October 2023).

 

From 2015 to 2022, Nissan Lannia was not launched any countries outside China, including ASEAN countries such as Malaysia, Thailand etc.

From what I understand, Chinese car buyers prefer to buy cars from C-segment and above. That's why Nissan Sylphy B18 is very popular in China, the sales figure is more than Lannia. While Sylphy is sold at thousands units per month, but Lannia was sold at only hundreds or tens units per month. Hence, this led Lannia went end of production in 2022, together with E-segment sedan Maxima A36.

No U16 Lannia will be made as U15 had poor sales in China. 

As October 2023, Nissan China sedan lineup remains Sylphy B18 and Altima L34.

Lexus HS 2nd generation 2019/20

 

The pictures above may preview as second generation of Lexus CT as subcompact luxury hatchback to fight against Mercedes-Benz A-class, expected to be launched in 2019 or 2020.

 

 

For sedan variant, Lexus did have HS, but discontinued in 2017 due to poor sales, but I believe Lexus may continue to launch HS successor in short time, but Lexus HS can go smaller than 1st generation to avoid "cannibalizing" Lexus IS which served as compact executive sedan. According to some news, next generation of Lexus HS is expected to be launched around 2019 or 2020. Based on an article statement by Lexus executive advisor on February 2018, since Toyota North America's Lexus division executive advisor, Jeff Bracken stated that Lexus won't build entry-level vehicles to target downmarket and compete with Mercedes, I may believe next generation of Lexus HS and CT will not be available in North America. (http://www.autospies.com/news/Lexus-Refuses-To-Go-Further-Downmarket-To-Compete-With-Mercedes-96655/)

For second generation of Lexus HS, it is expected to be based on Toyota GA-C platform (aka TNGA-C) which shares with Toyota Corolla 2019, Toyota Auris 2019 E210, Lexus UX AA10 and Toyota C-HR. In the future, next generation of Lexus CT will be based on GA-C platform too. In addition, for engine options, I believe Lexus HS second generation will use Toyota Corolla 2019 engine with hybrid variant.

==Predicted basic technical specification of Lexus HS 2nd generation==

* Engine variant: 2ZR-FAE L4 (1800cc petrol), 2ZR-FXE L4 (1800cc hybrid), M20A-FKS L4 (2000cc petrol), M20A-FXS L4 (2000cc hybrid), 8AR-FTS L4 (2000cc turbo)

* Transmission: CVT or 6-speed manual (for performance F Sport variant)

* Platform: TNGA-C

==Predicted 2nd generation of Lexus HS series specification==

* HS180

* HS180h

* HS200

* HS200h

* HS200t

In Japan, 2nd generation Lexus HS can be available without having sister car Toyota Sai which already merged to Camry segment, meanwhile it can be available in Malaysia also, price is cheaper than Lexus IS and ES, estimated between RM160k-RM255k, depends on the powertrain variant. 

==Future position of Lexus sedan and hatchback==

* Flagship (full-size): LS (rival of Mercedes Benz S-class)

* Mid-size executive luxury RWD sedan: GS (rival of Mercedes Benz CLS, BMW 6 series 4 door coupe and Audi A7)

* Mid-size executive FWD sedan: ES (rival of Audi A6, BMW 5 series, Mercedes Benz E class)

* Compact executive sedan: IS (rival of Audi A4, BMW 3 series, Merceds-Benz C-class)

* Subcompact executive sedan: HS 2nd gen. (rival of BMW Audi A3 sedan, Mercedes CLA and BMW 1 series sedan)

*Subcompact executive hatchback: CT 2nd gen

 

CT>>HS>>IS>>ES>>GS>>LS

Lexus downmarket vehicles. UX is just present, CT is present too, where is sedan?

Lexus is a luxury division of Toyota Motor Corporation, L-series such as LS for sedan, LX for SUV and LC for coupe are flagship lineup by Lexus.

After Lexus launched all its flagship vehicles, Lexus went to mid-size vehicles and compact vehicles, such as:

Executive and mid-size luxury: GS and ES for sedan, RX and GX for SUVs
Compact executive: IS for sedan, NX for SUVs

This year, Lexus launches its smallest SUV to target downmarket consumer, that is UX subcompact crossover SUV to compete against Mercedes-Benz GLA, BMW X1, Volvo XC40 and Audi Q3.

 

Within 2018, there is news reporting that Lexus refuses to make downmarket vehicles (Source: https://carbuzz.com/news/lexus-won-t-build-a-sub-30-000-entry-model-to-compete-with-mercedes) to compete with those entry-level vehicles from Mercedes-Benz and BMW. In my opinion, if Lexus makes subcompact executive vehicles to target downmarket, actually this can help Lexus to boost the sales for the brand.

For SUV, we have Lexus UX which already represent entry-level luxury crossover SUV, slotted below NX, this car will be launched in Malaysia around Q2 or Q3 2019, price can be more attractive when reach in Malaysia. Meanwhile Lexus does have entry-level vehicles in hatchback form, it is CT to compete Mercedes-Benz A-Class, BMW 1 series hatchback, Volvo V40 and Audi A3.

How about sedan? Actually Lexus was used to have entry-level subcompact executive sedan which based on Toyota New MC platform, also rebadged of Toyota Sai, it was Lexus HS250h. Lexus HS250h (code: ANF10) was launched in 2009, but discontinued in 2017. It was slotted below than Lexus IS. This vehicle is not available in Europe and most of Asia countries, including Malaysia.

Since Lexus HS was discontinued in 2017, meanwhile its sister car Toyota Sai was discontinued together, but Toyota Sai was integrated into Toyota Camry XV70 with Toyota Mark X and Avensis. Therefore, in order to continue to attract downmarket buyers to buy entry-level Lexus vehicles, I hope Lexus will reallocate HS (Harmonious Sedan) position by launching second generation of HS as subcompact luxury sedan to compete with Audi A3 Sedan, Volvo S50, BMW 1 series sedan and Mercedes-Benz CLA.