Nissan is preparing to launch a new generation of its bestseller Qashqai and has revealed key details ahead of the car's debut early next year.
The third iteration of what the brand calls its "pioneering" crossover aims to build on its leading position in this segment. More than three million units of the first two generations have been sold in Europe and five million worldwide.
It will use a new platform, and for the first time the car will not have a diesel engine. The front end was based on the new Juke, albeit with a less radical interpretation.
Nissan's head of product planning claims that the overall design goal was to offer the "best position in the segment" with a "more muscular but dynamic image." A wider track, larger diameter wheels, and a stronger shoulder line provide this.
The new car is larger than the current one. It is 35 mm longer, of which 20 mm is added to the wheelbase, and the rest to the front overhang. It is also 32 mm wider and, unusually, 25 mm taller, partly due to an increase in the Qashqai's ground clearance. The trunk is 50 liters larger than the previous model.
At the heart of the Qashqai is a new version of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance's CMF-C platform, which has been reworked for greater electrification. Nissan says this allows for reduced weight but increased rigidity, which is key to improving efficiency and dynamics.
The platform uses more high-strength steel than older cars, and the floor structure is stiffer as Nissan aims for the highest possible level of safety in upcoming stricter crash tests. There is also a structural adhesive in key body joints to further increase strength. Overall rigidity has increased by 41% compared to the previous model.
Despite all this, Nissan has reduced the car's body weight by 60 kg. This was aided by the use of composite materials for the tailgate and fuel tank, while using aluminum for the doors and hood saved 21 kg.
The suspension layout is familiar. For front-wheel-drive Qashqai with wheels up to 19 inches, a torsion beam rear suspension is used. All-wheel-drive models and those with 20-inch wheels have a multi-link design.
New vertically aligned torsion beam shock absorbers provide a stable and calm ride while maintaining excellent stabilization characteristics. The multi-link system, which is now mounted to the subframe with bushings to reduce road noise, offers the best-in-class balance between ride comfort and dynamic performance.
The new Qashqai is equipped with a simplified fully hybrid engine lineup with no diesel at all. The standard engine option is a 1.3-liter turbocharged petrol with a 12V hybrid system. According to the manufacturer, the 12V system is "the best value for money offer." The car is available with 138 hp with front-wheel-drive manual or 155 hp with an automatic CVT gearbox. The all-wheel-drive version is only available with the CVT.
Nissan says the new CVT gearbox, which replaces the dual-clutch transmission used in the previous model, offers better smoothness at low speeds.
Also available is a new e-Power hybrid option, which is expected to account for a significant share of sales. There is little detail about this trim, but it will produce 188 hp through the front wheels only. The e-Power system is not a plug-in hybrid, but instead uses an internal combustion engine as a generator to charge a battery, which then drives an electric motor via an inverter. This should provide the same electric vehicle driving experience in the city. The system has proven popular in Japan but has also been adapted for European conditions.
Autonomous braking has been tuned for greater smoothness with an increased speed range, and lane-keeping technology has become smoother and more natural, with the ability to self-steer around corners. Along with a system that can automatically slow your car to the permissible limit, there is a system that reduces speed before turns and intersections.
All Qashqai will be equipped with LED headlights as standard. Detailed information about the infotainment system will not be disclosed until the car's presentation.
