CHENGDU: Nissan has launched the new Qashqai in China through its joint venture Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Company (DFL-PV).
Priced at RMB139,800 (RM94,000), Nissan is hopeful that the new Qashqai, with a class-leading wheelbase of 2,646mm, will be met positively by urban Chinese.
Designed in Europe, the new Qashqai adopts a V-Motion grille at the front as well as the boomerang LED headlights and passengers will be comfortably seated in the company’s zero-gravity seats.
The Qashqai is built on the Renault-Nissan Alliance's Common Module Family platform architecture and gets either a 2.0 or 1.2-litre turbocharged engine mated to a new-generation Xtronic Transmission with 7-speed manual mode.
Damping is taken care of by independent suspension and an array of technologies including active ride control, active trace control, active engine brake, double modes EPS (Electric Speed-Sensitive Power Steering and intelligent parking assist.
Other safety features under the Nissan Safety Shield includes forward emergency braking, emergency assist for pedal misapplication, around view monitor, moving object detection, lane departure prevention and blind spot warning.
The first generation Qashqai, a pioneering crossover vehicle, was introduced to China in 2008.
Cumulative sales from launch in March 2008 through July 2015 totalled more than 600,000 units.
The new Qashqai has been called a “game-changer” in Europe, with more than 1.8 million units sold in the region.
Qashqai was awarded “Car of the Year” in the small SUV segment last year and “2015 Best Small SUV” this year by What Car.
“With its outstanding exterior design and functions, the new Qashqai is set to be another game-changer in the Chinese market and we expect it to impress Chinese consumers and contribute to DFL-PV’s leadership in the market,” said DFL-PV managing director Susumu Uchikoshi .”
