AFTER a decade, one of the most beloved and commercially successful SUVs of all time is set to return to United States.
Nissan confirmed that the vehicle will be back on the market in 2028, and will be built on American soil.
Nissan’s revival of the Xterra was officially announced earlier this week, with the company claiming it will be available to purchase in the US sometime in the 2028 calendar year.
“The dealers are super excited because it’s going to be a great example of Nissan coming back,” said Christian Meunier, chairman of Nissan Americas, to Bloomberg.
Since the truck-based midsize SUV was discontinued, Nissan had yet to introduce a true replacement, instead pushing customers onto the larger and more expensive Armada or forcing them to shop elsewhere.
Likewise, the returning Xterra is expected to directly compete with rival brand Toyota’s 4Runner and Land Cruiser, as well as Lexus’ GX and LX upscaled equivalents.
However, the returning vehicle may not take the same approach to its fuel system and drivetrain that the original did.
The revived Xterra is currently planned to share a platform, hybrid powertrain, and various parts with other vehicles under the Nissan umbrella.
This includes the midsized Nissan Frontier pickup and Pathfinder SUV, as well as the Infiniti QX60 and, potentially, another currently unnamed Infiniti SUV.
This would suggest that the unnamed Infiniti SUV could be a more luxurious and upscale sibling to Nissan’s less expensive Xterra.
As for the exact type of hybrid it will be, currently available information suggests a hybrid V6 powertrain per Automotive News. No other details, officially confirmed or otherwise, are available as of this writing.
Alongside this announcement, Nissan also confirmed that it is pausing plans to build an EV SUV in the United States at a Mississippi plant.
This space will instead be used to build the Xterra, which will also limit the impact of President Donald Trump’s automotive tariffs on the vehicle.
The move will “bring scale back to the [Canton, Mississippi] plant and get the costs at the right level,” according to Meunier, who added that “with the market being very uncertain about EVs, [he] think[s] it’s the right thing to do.”
Part of the uncertainty stems from the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate EV incentives, such as the discontinuation of the $7,500 tax credits for EV purchases at the end of September.
However, Nissan seems to be grateful for the administration’s varied interventions in the automotive industry.
In January, many EV makers reported slow demand. Reuters said there are a few valid reasons for a slow in demand:
Source: Reuters
“I keep saying it’s a good thing for Nissan, it forces us to rethink. It forces the company to do the right thing. When you think about a big market like the US, you need to be localized,” said Meunier.
The Japanese automaker certainly needs to reconsider its path forward, especially in America where sales declined by 6.5% in Q2 2025 after a disappointing first half of the calendar year.
The Xterra’s undying popularity, as well as new gas and hybrid options for its most popular models coming in early 2026, may be the stateside shot in the arm the brand needs.
In addition to the Xterra’s return, the era of American muscle is making a comeback thanks to Stellantis’ revival of the HEMI V8 in time for the upcoming model year.
On the other end of the spectrum, September saw Honda officially announce the revival of the Prelude, but in a form much different than what old school enthusiasts were expecting or hoping for.
While not officially announced, Ford had plans leak which suggests it intends to revive the Ranchero platform as an EV.
A MURDER suspect accused of gunning down two teenagers in the Arizona wilderness has been arrested more than four months after their bodies were discovered.
The case shocked the community when the friends were found shot dead near Mount Ord in the Tonto National Forest over Memorial Day Weekend.
On Thursday night, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office revealed detectives had taken 31-year-old Thomas Brown into custody.
Chilling footage released by officials showed the Phoenix man being hauled from a deputy’s cruiser, his hands cuffed as he was marched inside to a holding cell.
A mugshot released alongside the clip captured Brown’s icy glare, just hours before he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
The victims, 17-year-old Evan Clark and 18-year-old Pandora Kjolsrud, had been camping when they were shot multiple times, according to court records.
The teens’ bodies were discovered during the overnight hours of May 26 into May 27.
They had set out on their camping trip May 25 and were reported overdue to the Gila County Sheriff’s Office around 4 pm the next day by Kjolsrud’s worried mother.
Deputies rushed to the area and discovered a vehicle belonging to one of the victims.
Disturbingly, it had blood on the bumper and a bloody pillowcase inside.
Maricopa County Sheriff’s detectives were alerted and arrived at the scene just after midnight to begin their homicide investigation
DNA evidence cracked the case, investigators said, linking Brown to a blood-soaked glove and to one of the teens’ vehicles.
Court documents revealed his DNA was also found inside the SUV belonging to one of the victims, despite his claim he was never inside, Fox local affiliate KSAZ-TV reported.
In the weeks that followed, detectives received multiple tips about the case – including from Brown himself.
“Sometimes suspects do that,” Sheriff Jerry Sheridan explained.
“They try and cozy up to the detectives, see what information they have.”
“And the detectives had a very bad feeling about this individual. And then ultimately, through a lot of forensic science and DNA evidence, they were able to connect him to this crime.”
A group of five campers also contacted investigators and reported meeting a man they described as “strange.”
Their tip further narrowed the focus on Brown, court records show.
During his initial hearing, Brown’s attorney admitted he “had contact” with the teens but insisted that didn’t mean he killed them.
The lawyer argued the military veteran had been in the area camping and hiking, and said Brown handled items he found nearby.
But detectives wrote that his story didn’t add up, accusing him of giving “false or misleading information” about his involvement.
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Captain David Lee said that investigators have found no link between the suspect and the slain teens.
“At this time, we do not have any information to suggest that there was any evidence of any connection between Evan Clark, Pandora Schuller and Thomas Brown,” Captain Lee said.
“We’re unaware of any allegation that Evan and Pandora’s action or conduct contributed to their deaths.”
Brown served 10 years in the military and has no prior criminal history, his defense noted.
The married suspect previously told police he had left his wife to fly a drone in the national forest.
He is now being held on $2 million cash-only bond, with his next court date set for October 8.
Clark’s devastated mother, Sandra Sweeney, said the arrest brought her the “closure I desperately needed.”
“The past 4 months, I’ve been haunted every night by the murder of my son,” she told NBC affiliate 12News.
“I hope now that they have someone in custody, everyone can sleep safe knowing this person can’t harm anyone else.”
Pandora’s family remembered her for her “vivacious personality” and love of the outdoors.
“She was a beautiful human being and a bright light in this world who loved every single person she met,” her GoFundMe read.
Friends said she thrived while camping, kayaking, horseback riding, and hiking.
Her mother, Simone Kjolsrud, said her heart had been shattered into “a million pieces.”
Clark, described by his mom as an “old soul,” was her only child.
“He wrote me letters, the last of which he gave me on Mother’s Day that was so touching it made me both laugh and cry,” she said.
“He was special. He deserved a long life.”
Both victims were students at Arcadia High School in Phoenix, located about 64 miles southwest of where they were found.
THE Baltimore Ravens announced the sudden passing of a key player of their Super Bowl victory in 2013.
The Ravens announced the death of one of their former players, who is also the brother of a UFC legend.
On Friday afternoon, the Ravens announced the death of former defensive tackle Arthur Jones.
The details of the passing have yet to be revealed.
Jones was a key part in helping the Ravens win Super Bowl 47.
“We are terribly saddened to learn of Arthur Jones’ sudden passing,” General Manager Eric DeCosta stated Friday afternoon.
“Arthur’s presence was a gift to everyone he encountered. His big, bright smile, infectious energy and eternal positivity created a presence that continuously uplifted others.
“He was kind, courteous and enthusiastic — always displaying a love for family, teammates and friends.”