2027 Nissan Note: fourth-generation launch and new e-POWER hybrid
Japan reports a possible December 2027 launch for the next Nissan Note. The 1.4-liter e-POWER system already exists in the Kicks, but Note specifications are unconfirmed.
The fourth-generation Nissan Note may arrive later than previously expected. While earlier reports pointed to summer 2027, Japanese automotive journalists now suggest December. Nissan has not officially announced a delay or a launch date.
Japanese outlet Response published the updated forecast on October 19, 2026. Sources suggest a redesigned body and cabin as well as third-generation e-POWER technology. Replacing the current 1.2-liter generator engine with a 1.4-liter unit remains a possibility, not a confirmed specification.
The underlying hardware is already in production. Nissan unveiled the new Japanese-market Kicks on June 17, 2026, with sales starting the following day. It uses the third-generation e-POWER system and a naturally aspirated 1.4-liter HR14DDe gasoline engine that generates electricity. An electric motor drives the wheels.
The new five-in-one electric drive module combines the traction motor, generator, inverter and two reduction gear components. This integrated layout can reduce size and weight and improve efficiency. It makes a smaller Note with this technology technically plausible, but Nissan has not confirmed that application.
The European Qashqai uses another third-generation e-POWER configuration with a turbocharged 1.5-liter ZR15DDTe gasoline generator. Nissan reported a 14% improvement in highway fuel economy versus the previous Qashqai system. That figure cannot be applied to the future Note, whose power and consumption remain undisclosed.
All-wheel drive is also unresolved. The current Note can use an electric motor for its rear axle, while the latest Japanese Kicks offers e-4ORCE torque management. Neither fact proves that the next Note will have the same equipment.
The key development is a fresh launch forecast, not confirmation that the new Nissan Note is production-ready. Suitable series-production hybrid hardware exists, but Nissan has yet to announce final specifications, trims or a sales date. December 2027 is only a possible target.