Detroit’s Big Three (and Toyota), be afraid, be very afraid.

That appears to be the message Nissan is sending with the announcement it will
develop a new V8 engine, displacing over 5 litres, for the new full-size pickup,
minivan and SUV models that will be produced in a brand-new assembly plant in
Canton, Mississippi, from 2003.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Japanese sources say that the first vehicles powered by the new engine, coded
ZH, will be minivans and that annual V8 engine production should be around 168,000
units. U.S. full-size vehicle production in Canton is expected to total around
250,000 a year.

Nissan is no stranger to V8s – they’re in the company’s Japan-only
President flagship and the Cima – exported as the Infiniti Q45.

But, so far, the company’s V8s have been no bigger than 4.5 litres.

Just Auto Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Auto Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Continental has secured the Window Displays Innovation Award in the 2025 Just Auto Excellence Awards for its Window Projection solution, transforming side windows into dynamic, data-rich canvases. Discover how this compact projection technology and intelligent software are reshaping in-car UX and opening fresh revenue streams for OEMs and mobility providers.

Discover the Impact