Underpinning the all-new Nissan Qashqai is the new Alliance CMF-C platform, which has allowed Nissan’s product-planners, designers and engineers to create a vehicle which succeeds in reconciling the challenging customer demands in terms of design, spaciousness, dynamics and carbon footprint.
The CMF-C platform is a completely new architecture, designed and developed to ensure the vehicles it carries are competitive, offering the driving and ownership experience that customers will need in a time of dramatic progress in the automotive industry.
Qashqai will come with two different powertrain options, the 1.3-litre petrol with mild hybrid, which is offered with two outputs.
The 12V ALiS (Advanced Lithium-ion battery System) mild hybrid system available on new Qashqai is a more affordable hybrid technology that provides torque assist, extended idle stop, quick restart and coasting stop (Xtronic only), with improvements to both fuel economy and CO2 output (-4g/km). The ALiS mild hybrid system adds just 22kg to the overall vehicle mass.
When decelerating, energy is recovered through regeneration and stored in the Lithium-ion battery. This charged energy is then supplied during Idling Stop, Coasting Stop (Xtronic versions only) and Torque Assist.
When coasting to a stop, at speeds of less than 11mph, with light braking, the engine will switch off and the stored energy is used to power the vehicle’s electrical equipment. This allows engine stop to be extended and fuel consumption lowered as a result.
A six-speed manual gearbox is the standard option for the new Qashqai. It possesses a positive action, with clearly defined ratios tuned to offer responsive acceleration on the middle gears, with the higher gears optimised for quiet and efficient driving.
The new Xtronic automatic gearbox is designed to offer the best of both worlds in day to day driving. Around town, with partial throttle openings, acceleration is seamless, while the engine speed remains constant. When immediate acceleration is required, the gearbox instantly finds the optimum ratio and reacts in a stepped fashion, giving a more connected feeling.
The all-wheel drive system has been upgraded, with a new direct coupling which sends power to the rear wheels five times faster than the previous generation when it detects front wheel slip. And there is more driver interaction thanks to the addition of a new drive mode selector on the centre console. It allows the driver to choose the all-wheel drive setting according to the conditions, with Standard, Eco, Sport, Snow and Off-Road modes.
After its initial introduction, Qashqai will be offered with the innovative e-POWER powertrain, which brings the well-known advantages of an EV, such as linear, effortless acceleration and refined performance, without consideration for recharging. The battery is charged thanks to a three-cylinder 1.5 litre variable compression turbo motor which runs quietly when needed in the background.
To accommodate this unique installation, the CMF-C platform was designed from the outset to house the battery pack in the centre of the floorplan, but without compromising cabin or trunk space.
“When we started to define the needs and priorities for the next generation of Qashqai customers, we could see that we faced enormous engineering challenges. We knew Qashqai needed to be electrified, so we opted to develop two innovative powertrain options, which will combine efficiency and responsive performance,” said David Moss, Senior Vice President, Region Research & Development, Nissan Technical Centre Europe.
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