Nissan SA unwraps Qashqai in sub-Sahara Africa

Nissan Motors headquartered in Rosslyn, Petoria, South Africa’s political capital, has in Johannesburg unveiled the second generation Qashqai SUV for sub-Saharan African markets where Nigeria currently appears to be the most preferred choice destination for many automakers.

The unveiling of the new crossover vehicle in Johannesburg the commercial city and economic hub of South Africa with members of the business community, lifestyle reporters and few African motoring journalists with only BusinessDay from Nigeria, is coming barley seven months after our reported international launch of the car in London, the United Kingdom on November 7, 2013.

Designed in London, engineered in Cranfield and Barcelona and built in Sunderland, UK, the new Qashqai targeted mainly at the upwardly mobile youthful segment of the global community is armed with a smart new exterior look, more fuel-efficient engines, and, perhaps most significantly, a much higher quality, more premium interior.

The first-generation Qashqai, built in Nissan’s Sunderland plant in the north east of England, according to Mike Whitfield, managing director of Nissan Motor Group, South Africa, has been the most successful model in Nissan Europe’s history, selling around 1.5m units in Europe since 2007 and 2m units worldwide. He said he is very optimistic that the newly introduced Qashqai will maintain the same momentum in the sub-Saharan market.

During the evening launch event which was characterised with all the glitz and razzmatazz, the enthusiastic audience present could not but went straight to the car to have a feel of it. According to senior company source, “the new Qashqai needed a big impact, and it has done that.”

Among the features on the new car is a 360-degree parking camera, Intelligent Park Assist which steers the vehicle into a parallel parking bay. There is also a traffic sign recognition system which flashes up road signs – such as speed limits or sharp turn warnings – on to the dashboard.

Some of the new features include all-LED headlights, active grille shutter system, dual floor luggage compartment, double piston shock absorbers, EPAS and Hill Start assist. It is the second Nissan model (after the X-Trail) to be underpinned by the CMF Platform presented in two petrol and two diesel engine options.

Nissan reports that the engine is quieter during operation, develops lower vibrations, and the engine weight is reduced as light-weight materials are used in its construction and petrol, this engine is fitted with a start-stop system.

Moving object detection (MOD) warns if objects cross the vehicle’s path when reversing. Dozy drivers are given a wake-up call thanks to special monitors which check the motorist’s steering activity and warns if he or she is about to fall asleep at the wheel. The car also has a hi-tech 7-inch touchscreen which integrates satnav, phone and bluetooth music streaming.

“With the second generation, we’ve already made the segment and are the market leader. So rather than make one big wow with the car, we took a more mature approach and made a lot of improvements in small areas to appeal to a wider range of customers,” Whitfield said.

With the new Qashqai, that Nissan’s main areas of focus will specifically be to enhance the level of technology and design and “improving the dynamic performance, while maintaining the package, price and size of the current car.”

Originally launched in 2006, Qashqai is a crossover that combines elements of a sports utility vehicle and a hatchback, and Japanese firm’s best-selling car in Europe. It blazed a trail when production started in 2006 according to what a Nissan senior marketing official told BusinessDay at a launch event in Johanessburg.

All Nissan model line-up are imported and distributed in Nigeria by Stallion Nissan Motors Nigeria Limited, (Stallion NMN). The company said it has already commenced local assembly of Nissan Patrol SUV under the preliminary stages of local auto assembly as provided for in the new automotive policy guidelines.

MIKE OCHONMA