Last week, Nissan revealed the all-new Qashqai ahead of its on-sale date early in 2014. As its predecessor was one of the pioneers of the crossover SUV segment, all eyes are on the new model.
Visually, the second-generation Qashqai is an evolution of its predecessor’s overall design, with narrower head- and tail-lamps, as well as more sharper edges winning favour over the more rounded elements that featured before. The new visual cues don’t just make the Qashqai look sleeker, because it is. It’s not just longer than the outgoing model (49 mm), but also marginally lower and wider.
The new Qashqai is powered by a choice of four turbocharged four-cylinder engines: two petrol and two diesel, with both manual and automatic transmissions offered. The first, a turbocharged 1,2-litre engine, provides 85 kW and 190 N.m of torque (fuel consumption and emissions figures of just 5,6 litres/100 km and 129 g/km of CO2) while the turbocharged 1,6-litre produces 110 kW and 240 N.m of torque (fuel consumption and emissions figures of just 5,6 litres/100 km and 132 g/km of CO2).
Diesel fans can choose between a 1,5-litre dCi motor that makes 81 kW (3,8 litres/100 km and 99 g/km of CO2) and a 1,6-litre dCi motor that produces 96 kW (4,4 litres/100 km and 115 g/km of CO2 for the two-wheel drive manual model, 4,6 litres and 119 g/km for the automatic, and 4,9 litres and 129 g/km for the all-wheel drive version).
The new Qashqai also features Nissan’s “Safety Shield” group of active safety features that includes front-collision avoidance, driver-attention support, traffic-sign recognition, lane-departure warning, blind-spot warning, moving-object detention, high-beam assist, chassis control, intelligent parking assist and around-view monitor.
CARmag.co.za will have more information on the new Nissan Qashqai closer to its local launch date.
