The final preparations are well under way for the introduction of the third generation of the compact crossover that changed the face of the European car market and spawned many imitators – the Nissan Qashqai.
Prototypes of the all-new model are racking up the testing kilometres on European roads in anticipation of it again resetting what customers can expect from a compact crossover when it goes on sale in 2021.
The all-new Qashqai will build on its position as the pioneer of and benchmark in the medium-crossover segment in Europe since 2007. Underpinning the new Qashqai is the new Alliance CMF-C platform, a showcase of advanced engineering, innovation and advanced technology.
The current Qashqai, which went on-sale in Europe in 2014, has sold over one million units since its introduction.
“The new Qashqai is going to change what customers can expect from a family car. Comfort, refinement and technology will be from higher categories of car, while the driving experience will satisfy drivers and passengers alike. With Nissan’s bold e-POWER technology, we feel that customers will fall in love with the feeling of an electric powertrain, without the range concerns,” said Gianluca de Ficchy, Chairman, Nissan Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO) Region.
For this new iteration, Nissan has retained the guiding principles that have driven the concept, design and development of the two previous generations of Qashqai: elegant design, enhanced packaging and efficient powertrain, combined with elevated quality and a driving experience from a higher segment. The new Qashqai will again raise the bar in the crossover segment and customers will savour those attributes.
Like its predecessors, the styling of the new Qashqai was led by the team at Nissan Design Europe, based in central London (UK), while its engineering was led by Nissan Technical Centre Europe, situated in Cranfield, Bedfordshire (UK).
The new Qashqai will represent the best of Nissan’s innovative spirit – which we call Nissan Intelligent Mobility. It will bring the first deployment of Nissan’s innovative e‑POWER drive system to Europe. A unique Nissan innovation, the e-POWER system offers full electric motor drive, meaning that the wheels are completely driven by the electric motor. e-POWER is comprised of a high-output battery and the powertrain which is integrated with petrol engine, power generator, inverter and a motor. In conventional hybrid systems, the wheels are driven by an electric motor and a petrol engine. However, in the e-POWER system, the petrol engine is not connected to the wheels; it simply charges the battery. And unlike a full EV, the power source is the engine, rather than just the battery. [Full technical details and specifications of the e-POWER installation will follow closer to its market introduction.]
The key difference compared with other conventional hybrids is that the electric motor is the size of one typically found in a pure EV, giving the instant acceleration response which is so popular among EV customers. The engine-driven generator maintains the battery charge, but can also provide electricity directly to the motor for additional power. The engine operates at an optimal RPM range promoting maximum fuel efficiency while being carefully tuned to minimise noise and provide a natural, connected feel during hard acceleration.
For customers, e-POWER brings that distinctive instant and linear acceleration feeling, delivering a fun-to-drive experience but without the range anxiety. This is the perfect transition into EV driving especially for high mileage drivers who will love the combination of convenience and refinement, as well as the car’s eco-efficiency.
“The advanced and efficient powertrain options represent Nissan’s innovative spirit – none more so than the e-POWER system. It brings all the driving benefits of an EV powertrain without compromise. When we talk about Nissan Intelligent Mobility, e‑POWER is a perfect example,” said David Moss.
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