The History Of Nissan Qashqai

The Nissan Qashqai (Nissan Dualis in Japan and Australia) is a compact crossover SUV produced by Japanese automaker Nissan since 2007. The P32L automobile platform will be also used by other oncoming Nissan crossover SUVs. The Qashqai has been built at Nissan's NMUK Washington, Tyne and Wear plant since December 2006.

It is the first model to be styled by Nissan Design Europe in London, with engineering development led by Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) in Cranfield, Bedfordshire. It was globally presented at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.

By the end of 2007, Nissan had sold about 100,000 Nissan Qashqai in Europe, including 17,554 in UK, 15,376 in Russia, and 10,746 in Italy.

The Qashqai will be exported to the Middle East and additional overseas markets.

Built on an all-new platform, the Qashqai went on sale in February 2007, and Nissan targeted more than 100,000 sales per year. Nissan said the car, named after the nomadic Qashqai tribe, would cater to those buyers who want a more dynamic design, but are not attracted to the large, aggressive nature of a sport utility vehicle. The car slots below the X-Trail in the Nissan range and partially replaces the conventional Primera (still produced at the Sunderland plant for export markets, but no longer sold in the UK), even though it took the production place of the smaller Almera. In terms of size, its 4310mm (169.7in) length and 1610mm (63.4in) height make it fall between compact MPVs, such as the SEAT Altea and Renault Scénic; and compact SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Mitsubishi Outlander.

The top half of Qashqai has a sleek dynamic form with a distinctive shoulder line which rises at the rear — a design cue similar to that of the Nissan Murano. The lower portion resembles an SUV due to large, pronounced wheel arches and a slightly elevated ground clearance. The all-new Qashqai uses the exact same platform as the X-Trail (the vehicle the Qashqai is based on), but will not be as functional or as off-road capable as the latter. Nissan is planning the Qashqai to rival such cars the Toyota RAV-4 and the Honda CR-V. The Qashqai utilizes a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine delivering 103kW (138hp) power and 196N·m (145lb·ft) torque. It is equipped with an AWD/ 4WD system and received a five star Euro NCAP safety rating.

Four engine choices are available: the petrol engines will be a 115hp (86kW) 1.6L and a 140hp (104kW) 2.0L, while the 106hp (79kW) 1.5L and 150hp (112kW) 2.0L will be the Diesel engines.

In May 2007, the Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) awarded the Qashqai its best ever adult occupant score.

It has already many fun clubs allover the world In Greece you will find the Q.G.C. QASHQAI GREEK CLUB at http://www.qashqaiclub.gr

Production of a seven-passenger version of the Qashqai, named "Qashqai+2", began at NMUK in July 2008. Due for launch in October 2008, the Qashqai+2 is a larger variant of the standard Qashqai with the wheelbase extended by 135mm. The overall length of the car has been extended by 211mm to allow for the third row of seats, and roof height has been risen by 38mm in the rear.

The entire chassis of the car from the A-Pillar back is unique, but trim and engine models remain the same as on the standard Qashqai.

The +2 is expected to have a £1,000 premium (in the UK) on the standard Qashqai when it launches in October.

The Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) Dualis is offered in 2.0 G, 2.0 S, 2.0 G Four, and 2.0 S Four trim levels. All models are powered by 2.0-liter MR20DE engine matched to 6-speed NCVT.

The Qashqai is not offered in North American markets. The Nissan Rogue, a completely different model despite some visual similarities, is offered instead.

Nissan New Zealand have chosen to call it Qashqai to distinguish it from grey imports from Japan (which are named Dualis) that have been imported even before the official release which is due in the 2nd Q of 2009. The Qashqais will be imported into New Zealand from Japan.

The Qashqai name (pronounced [qaʃqaːʔiː] comes from the originally Qashqai tribe in southwestern Iran (Persia). Nissan's designers say they believe that its buyers will be nomadic in nature too. The Chinese nameplate was to be CCUV which was short for "Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle," but since the Chinese launch the car has been named Qashqai. In Australia, the Qashqai carries the name Dualis. This was chosen out of fear that Australians might call it the "cash cow"