SA unveiled Qashqai set for Nigerian market
Riding on the waves of its first generation model that was claimed to be popular, with more than two million global sales since its 2007 launch, the all-new, Qashqai is set to continue this success in a market segment spearheaded by Nissan Motors group sub-Sahara Africa.
Launched last week in Johannesburg, South Africa with almost 100 dealer representatives and select reporters from some sub-Sahara Africa countries in attendance including BusinessDay Nigeria, the new Qashqai’s overall looks represent a new lifestyle choice for people who value driving as part of everyday experience, and aims to make their time behind the wheel pleasurable.
Compact hatchback proportions with the practicality of a passenger car and adventurous driving stance of an SUV are key factors that culminated in the original model which pioneered the compact crossover segment and set the bar high for other manufacturers to follow into what has evolved into one of the largest market segments globally.
GM, marketing and planning at Nissan South Africa, Konstantin von Vieregge said the new Qashqai is tagged; “The ultimate driving experience”, that ultimately personifies Nissan’s ethos of ‘Innovation that Excites’ and meeting the needs of consumers who require the virtues offered by a crossover, Qashqai ticks all the right boxes.
Product manager for passenger and crossover vehicles, Nancy Reddy, elaborates: “Few vehicles in the world have enjoyed sales successes we have seen with the first generation; a car we pioneered by investigating what consumers really want, and then giving them the answer.
“We are now proud to introduce the all-new Qashqai to South Africa and other countries where compact crossovers are increasingly popular and where the name carries much weight in its segment.”
New and revamped from the ground up, it gives fresh perspective to the term ‘compact crossover’ and, with heightened design, luxury, quality, refinement and technology headlining its introduction.
“With all these, consumers are expected to continue to view it as the answer to their diverse motoring needs. Qashqai has the space, power, comfort, versatility and practicality to suit the busy and adventurous lifestyles of buyers, now at a more premium level than ever before.
As the unmistakable new face of Nissan in a complete rework of its ground-breaking predecessor which retains original model DNA, it features the new brand’s face of as well as an edgy and striking body design which not only gives it a unique new look but also a sassy new character.
Keeping everything fresh, the bold new design is fronted by a prominent new Nissan V-grille, supported by angular headlights, accented clamshell bonnet and an aggressive front bumper with deep air dam for a purposeful look. All models are characterised by new LED daytime running lights which create a classy light signature that is unquestionably Qashqai.
Purposeful in its execution as much as it’s striking to look at, design elements have also been employed to enhance aerodynamics with the new model featuring a drag coefficient of just 0.33 – thanks to clever features like a flat underbelly and a roof spoiler with winglets.
Spacious seating for five occupants with improved leg-, head- and shoulder room than before, is matched by improved door apertures for easier ingress and egress. The all-new interior, which is bolstered by the three core elements of comfort, connectivity and control, is where the biggest leap in quality and feel has been achieved.
This is achieved with the use of premium quality materials culminating in a chic interior which creates a wonderful driving environment. The ergonomic and fuss-free layout ensures ease of use, with key touch points and surfaces designed to enhance the sensory experience and provide long-term durability.
Sculpted design cues on the steering wheel and dashboard are complemented by matt-silver accents and glossy black finishes which elevate the new interior ambience to new heights and set a precedent for other Nissan models in the future.
A new Drive-Assist Display brings increased interaction with high-definition graphics to the driving environment, making it holistically more enjoyable than before, so does the new ambient lighting system which includes full driver control to create the perfect night driving environment.
Exclusively available with five seats, Nissan was in fact inspired by NASA to analyse blood flow and pressure in the lower backs of seated passengers, the engineers using advanced medical scanning techniques to design brand new seats which offer even support. The resultant highly-advanced seats include special bolstering in the pelvis, lumbar and chest areas and offer unparalleled long-distance comfort.
MIKE OCHONMA