Cutting-Edge Trans-Global”: ZNA’s “Tough New Player” Z9 Officially Off-Line Ceremony

By Admin
2025-01-23

On January 8th, the grand ceremony for the off-line of ZNA’s first Z9 was held at the Zhongmu plant of Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile Co.,Ltd. The “Tough New Player” Z9, a new strategic model from ZNA, officially rolled off the production line, accompanied by the debut of the brand-new “Global Multi-Purpose Off-Road Platform.” This event signifies a major leap in ZNA’s independent R&D capabilities and marks the company’s transformation towards off-road vehicles, electrification, and internationalization.

Leaders Witness the First Z9 Rolling Off the Line

At the ceremony, Mr. Hu Jun, Vice Mayor of Zhengzhou, congratulated the successful roll-off of the Z9. He highlighted the Z9 as a major achievement in technological innovation and product upgrade, bringing high-quality pickups to the automotive market and accelerating the high-quality development of Zhengzhou’s automotive industry.

Vice Mayor Mr. Hu Jun of Zhengzhou delivered a speech

Nissan China Management Committee Chairman and President of Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd., Mr. Ma Zhixin, stated that the Z9 is a meticulously crafted vehicle designed with both domestic and global markets in mind. It fills a key gap for Nissan in the premium pickup and off-road segments. Nissan and Dongfeng Motor will continue to unwaveringly support ZNA’s growth, solidifying its presence in the Chinese market while expanding its footprint globally.

Nissan hina Management Committee Chairman and President of Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd., Mr. Ma Zhixin(Stephen Ma)delivered a speech

Z9-A Steel Knight for the New Generation of Off-Road Enthusiasts

Positioned as the 'Tough New Player,' the Z9 is the flagship product of ZNA’s transformation and the first model in Dongfeng’s Z series. Carrying the legacy of ZNA’s rugged DNA and the Global Multi-Terrain Off-Road Platform, the Z9 delivers intelligent off-road performance combined with a comfortable lifestyle, offering a brand new pickup experience.

Inspired by the letter 'Z,' the Z9’s overall design adopts the all-new 'Z-vision' design language. The 'Z' represents the initials of ZNA and also embodies 'zippy' (agility), 'zing' (vitality), and 'zenith' (pinnacle). The Z9’s bold, dynamic, and vibrant design captures the essence of tough beauty.

The 'Z-shaped headlights' serve as the finishing touch, bringing this steel knight to life. The 'Armor Shield' front grille, featuring an intersecting Z-pattern, exudes reliability and vitality while creating a mysterious and commanding presence. The blade-shaped trim, seamless body lines, and upward-curved tail design give the Z9 a distinctive and dynamic appearance. The robust and upright Z-shaped body showcases its fierce, rugged personality.

The interior is designed with a focus on “cutting-edge technological aesthetics,” pushing minimalist style to its limits. The mecha-inspired seat lines are sleek and stylish, reminiscent of a knight’s armor. With a class-leading body size of 5520mm x 1960mm x 1950mm and a panoramic sunroof, the Z9 offers a spacious, comfortable, and tech-infused driving experience.

A True Player in Off-Road Performance: Beyond its striking design, the Z9 excels in power, off-road capabilities, and safety, ensuring every journey over mountains and through valleys is exhilarating. The fuel-powered Z9 delivers a maximum torque of 500Nm and a maximum power output of 140kW. It can accelerate from 0 to 40km/h in just 3.4 seconds when fully loaded, effortlessly conquering all terrains. The Z9 boasts a climbing capability of up to a 100% gradient, offering exceptional off-road performance and overcoming all obstacles with ease. Its spacious dimensions, combined with top-tier safety features, make the Z9 an ideal choice for the new generation of off-road enthusiasts, providing a fresh, rugged off-road experience.

To enable off-road veterans to get their hands on this steel knight, pre-sales of the Z9 will begin in February, with an official launch scheduled for March. A hybrid version of the Z9 will also be introduced at a later stage.

Born to Lead: New Platform Showcases Four Super Capabilities

As the cradle of the Z9, ZNA’s first proprietary “Global Multi-Terrain Off-Road Platform” stole the spotlight during the event with its four super capabilities.

“The ‘Global Multi-Terrain Off-Road Platform’ reflects our vision for this innovative base,” said Yao Liwen, Party Committee Secretary of Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile Co., Ltd. “The platform is globally oriented, enabling synchronized planning, design, and R&D for fuel, EV, and PHEV vehicles—in a single step. This groundbreaking achievement is not only a first in China’s pickup industry but also a global pioneer.”

Yao Liwen, Secretary of the Party Committee of Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile Co., Ltd., provided a detailed explanation of the Z9 vehicle development platform

"Three Years of Innovation: A Platform of Super Strength. ZNA assembled a team of over 1,000 R&D experts to tackle 17 core technologies across platformization, electrification, and intelligence. The result is a platform defined by "Super Power, Super Off-Road, Super Driving Ease, and Super Safety," elevating it to a standout competitor in the off-road sector."

Super Power: A Perfect Balance of Performance and Efficiency. The platform’s fuel-powered drivetrain combines the Renault-Nissan Alliance M9T engine with the ZF 8AT gearbox, delivering a maximum torque of 500 Nm and a peak power of 140 kW, setting a benchmark for the industry. The hybrid system boasts a combined output of up to 800 Nm and 320 kW, rivaling the performance of a 4.0L V8 supercar.

With a PHEV driving range of nearly 1,100 km and a fuel consumption rate as low as 1.24 L/100 km, alongside a fuel-powered NEDC efficiency of 7.9 L/100 km, the platform strikes an exceptional balance between power and economy.

Super Off-Road: Designed to Conquer All Terrains. Off-road capability lies at the heart of the platform, featuring an approach angle of 36°, departure angle of 37°, minimum ground clearance of 270mm, and a turning diameter of just 13.5m. It can conquer slopes of up to 100% gradient and wade through depths exceeding 900mm.

Equipped with features like the central different lock, front axle different lock, rear axle different lock, tank turns, and over 12 off-road modes, the platform offers seamless performance across challenging terrains, from crater-filled trails to desert dunes. Borg Warner's latest MLOCK intelligent transfer case amplifies torque up to three times, ensuring dominance across all terrains. With both part-time and full-time 4WD options, the platform unleashes unmatched off-road passion.

Super Driving Ease: Comfort Meets Precision. The platform’s advanced suspension system, combining front double wishbones, rear five-link solid axle, and large tires, ensures world-class stability. Vehicle roll rigidity is enhanced by 25%, maintaining composure even during emergency lane changes above 120km/h.

To prove its durability, the platform successfully endured 200,000km of harsh road conditions in Qinghai’s Mangya region. Its SUV-level vibration damping underscores the advanced engineering. The EEA 3.0 integrated electronic architecture enables seamless OTA updates and supports 28 intelligent driving features, achieving L2+ autonomous driving capability. Its smart cabin rivals mainstream passenger vehicles in comfort and technology.

Super Safety: A Fortress of Protection. Meeting C-NCAP five-star safety standards, the platform uses ultra-high-strength steel for 97% of the frame and 70% of the body, this achieves torsional rigidity of over 4,000Nm/deg for the frame and 20,000Nm/deg for the body. Global durability testing across 1,200 million kilometers ensures consistent performance under extreme conditions, including harsh western terrains and coastal saline roads.

A New Journey: “Cutting-Edge Trans-Global”

As a trailblazer in China’s pickup industry, ZNA has excelled in the segment for 32 years, with legendary models like the D22, Navara, Paladin, and Rich series. Today, amid the rise of intelligent and electrified manufacturing, the company is redefining pickup truck production with a focus on platform-based design, guided by the dual-brand strategy of Dongfeng and Nissan.

The simultaneous launch of the Z9 and the Global Multi-Terrain Off-Road Platform represents a milestone for ZNA, signaling its shift toward off-road vehicles, electrification, and internationalization.

On the day of the event, media representatives, community groups, and user representatives from across the country visited the new final assembly workshop.

The Z9 is produced on the world’s first flexible production line, capable of rolling out one vehicle every two minutes. This smart, automated, and digitalized facility ensures meticulous quality control, meeting Nissan’s latest AVES evaluation standards. Vehicle quality is evaluated using Nissan’s latest AVES standards, covering over 1,600 criteria to match Nissan’s global benchmarks.

As the first joint venture vehicle manufacturer for Nissan in China, ZNA is leveraging the strengths of its shareholders: Dongfeng’s leadership in new energy and Nissan’s global expertise in manufacturing and quality control.

Looking ahead, the company will capitalize on the versatility of the Global Multi-Terrain Off-Road Platform to develop fuel-powered, plug-in hybrid, pure electric, and extended-range vehicles for diverse market segments. ZNA aims to be the top choice for pickup enthusiasts worldwide, creating a new legend in rugged off-road performance!