Diesel-powered Nissan Qashqai Starts Production at Sunderland

By: RyanThomas

The production of the Nissan QASHQAI that features the 2-litre diesel engine will start this week at the manufacturer's Sunderland plant this week. The 2.0 dCi engine kicks out 150bhp at 4000rpm and 236lb-ft of torque at 2000rpm.

The Nissan QASHQAI built on a new platform will be exported to the Middle East and additional overseas markets. The Japanese automaker aims to sell over 100,000 Qashqais annually starting from February this year.

Nissan said that the car, which is named after the Qashqai Turkic tribe in Iran, will cater for those car buyers who want a more dynamic design but are not attracted to the large, aggressive nature of a sport utility vehicle. The diesel Qashqai, which slots below the X-Trail in the automaker's range, partially replaces the conventional Primera and Almera. In regards with the measurements, the diesel Qashqai is 4310 mm length and 1610 mm width. As such, it falls between compact MPVs like the SEAT Altea and the Renault Scenic, and compact SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and the Mitsubishi Outlander.

The diesel Nissan Qashqai features a sleek dynamic form with a distinctive shoulder line which rises at the rear. Said design cue similar to that of the Nissan Murano. The lower portion resembles a SUV due to its large, pronounced wheel arches and a slightly elevated ground clearance. The vehicle is also given four engine choices: the gasoline engines will be a 115 hp 1.6 L and a 140 hp 2.0 L; diesel engines include the 106 hp 1.5 L and the 150 hp 2.0 L. To boost the performance of the vehicle, it is given a six-speed auto box and a refined .

The lower portion of the car is likened to a SUV due to huge, pronounced wheel arches and a vaguely elevated ground clearance. The automaker quoted fuel economy at 42.8 mpg on the combined cycle with carbon dioxide emissions of 174g/km. Figures for the other available transmissions are 40.9 mpg and 184g/km for the manual 4WD 36.2 mpg and 208 g/km for the automatic 4WD version.

The Japanese automaker expects over a quarter of purchasers to plump for the diesel. The said engine has been developed with partner Renault for the crossover QASHQAI. The common-rail system employs piezoelectric technology that allows a 'five-squirt' injection cycle to reduce diesel clatter and burns fuel well. These advantages are delivered with fewer emissions. A fitted Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) has a regeneration system that heats exhaust gases to oxidize the soot in the filter.

The new Nissan QASHQAIs, about 700 units, are expected to roll off the Sunderland production line by the end of this month. The compact crossover SUV which was globally launched at the 2006 Paris Motor Show is set be released in Europe and Japan early this year. It is the first vehicle styled by Nissan Design Europe in London, England, UK, with engineering development led by Nissan Technical Centre Europe in Cranfield, Bedfordshire.

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