Production of the Nissan QASHQAI with 2-litre diesel engine will begin at the manufacturer??™s Sunderland plant this week (April 2007).

The 2.0 dCi engine kicks out 150bhp at 4000rpm and 236lb-ft of torque (320Nm) at 2000rpm. Fuel economy is quoted at 42.8mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 174g/km. A six-speed auto box is available.

Figures for the other available transmissions are 40.9mpg and 184g/km for the manual 4WD 36.2mpg and 208 g/km for the automatic 4WD version.

Nissan expects over a quarter of customers to plump for the diesel, which has been developed with partner Renault for the crossover QASHQAI.

The common-rail system features piezoelectric technology allowing for a ???five-squirt??™ injection cycle that minimises diesel clatter and burns fuel more efficiently, and with fewer emissions.

A fitted Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) has a regeneration system that heats exhaust gases to oxidise the soot in the DPF.

700 new QASHQAIs are expected to roll off the Sunderland production line by the end of April.

Source: [url=http://www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?id=91028]just-auto.com[/url]