Nissan Qashqai is First Produced

The Nissan Qashqai, known as the Nissan Dualis in Japan and Australia, is a compact crossover SUV produced by the Japanese car manufacturer Nissan since 2007. It replaced the body-on-frame Mistral as its small SUV offering and its P32L automobile platform will be also used by other forthcoming Nissan crossover SUVs.

The Qashqai has been built at Nissan's NMUK Sunderland, Tyne and Wear plant since December 2006.

It is the first model to be styled by Nissan Design Europe in London, with engineering development led by Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) in Cranfield, Bedfordshire. It was globally presented at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.

By the end of 2007, Nissan had sold approximately 100,000 Nissan Qashqais in Europe, including 17,554 in UK, 15,376 in Russia, and 10,746 in Italy. Nissan expects to deliver its 500,000th Qashqai before the end of 2009, ahead of a facelift for the 2010 model year.

The Qashqai is exported to the Middle East and additional overseas markets.

Built on an all-new platform, the Qashqai went on sale in February 2007, and Nissan targeted more than 100,000 sales per year. Nissan said the car, named after the nomadic Qashqai tribe in Iran, would cater to those buyers who want a more dynamic design, but are not attracted to the large, aggressive nature of a sport utility vehicle. The car slots below the X-Trail in the Nissan range and partially replaces the conventional Primera (still produced at the Sunderland plant for export markets, but no longer sold in the UK), even though it took the production place of the smaller Almera. In terms of size, its 4,310 millimetres (169.7 in) length and 1,610 millimetres (63.4 in) height make it fall between compact MPVs, such as the SEAT Altea and Renault Scénic; and compact SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Mitsubishi Outlander.

The top half of Qashqai has a sleek, dynamic form with a distinctive shoulder line which rises at the rear — a design cue similar to that of the Ni...

It will cater for those car-buyers who want a more dynamic design than offered by a traditional C-segment car, but are not attracted to the large, aggressive nature of a compact SUV.

The design of the car was led by Nissan Design Europe (NDE) and it represents the first new production vehicle to be designed at NDE since its move to London in 2003. The development programme was led by Nissan Technical Centre Europe based in Cranfield, England, with significant input from Nissan’s engineering base in Japan. Qashqai will be produced at Nissan’s factory in Sunderland, England.

As well as European sales, Qashqai will also be exported from the Sunderland factory to Japan – where it will be named Dualis – the Middle East and additional overseas markets.

The Qashqai is described as a crossover as it inhabits the area where passenger car attributes meet those of a 4x4. In terms of design, the top half of Qashqai is reminiscent of a dynamic passenger car, with a sleek, dynamic form that features a distinctive shoulder line which rises at the rear – a design cue similar to that of the Murano.

The lower portion of the car suggests SUV attributes of strength and solidity thanks to large, pronounced wheel arches, slightly elevated ground clearance and a purposeful stance.

The interior has been designed to give the driver a focused cockpit feeling, with a clear separation between them and their passenger. The deeply recessed instruments give a sporty feeling to the driving environment – a feeling reinforced by the raised central console. However, the front and passenger environments have been designed to feel airy, spacious and relaxing.

In terms of size, QASHQAI sits between C-segment hatchbacks and SUVs. It has a wheelbase of 2630mm, it is 1610mm tall, 1780mm wide and 4310mm long. It is about 100mm longer than a typical hatchback but 150mm shorter than a typical SUV. Similarly, it is taller than rival hatchbacks by between 100 -150mm yet up to 130mm lowe...

Unique is an oft misused word, but not when mentioned in connection with the new Nissan QASHQAI. A passenger car with SUV attributes, QASHQAI really does bring unique qualities to one of the most conservative sectors of the new car market.

"There's change in the air. As consumers, we are no longer prepared to put up with the dull or the conventional. We want something new, something different� especially when it comes to cars. Well, thanks to the Nissan QASHQAI something different has arrived. You need never drive a boring car again." Carlos Tavares, Executive Vice President, Product Planning and Corporate Strategy, Nissan Motor Co Ltd

Nissan's new QASHQAI is a catalyst for change. A totally new vehicle in a totally new sector of the car market, QASHQAI mixes elegance, agility and sheer ability in one very different package.

The QASHQAI is same size as a Ford Focus yet smaller than a typical compact SUV, and promises the driving comfort and fun of the former with the ability and practicality of the latter.

Distinctive styling

Its distinctive styling is a marriage of the sleek shape of a passenger car with the strength of a 4x4 to create something fresh and different in the new car market.

Named after a desert-dwelling nomadic tribe living near the Zagros mountains in South Western Iran, QASHQAI (say it Kash-Kai) should be seen as an 'Urban Nomad', says Design Director at Nissan Design Europe, Stephane Schwarz.

"It is a car of contrasts for a world of contrasts," he says. "It is tough and compact for the city but sleek and agile for journeys away from the town. It reflects our personalities, our imagination."

Although initial design concepts started in Japan, most of QASHQAI's design and development work has been undertaken in Europe, notably at Nissan Design Europe in London and at Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) in Cranfield also in the UK. It will be built at Sunderland in Nissan's award-winning plant in the North East of England. ...