Hybrid confirmed as Qashqai fully revealed

The next generation of Nissan’s core crossover has been uncovered, along with more detail about its electric-assisted e-Power drivetrain.

CONFIRMATION that a potent hybrid powertrain will feature in the next-generation of Nissan’s Qashqai crossover has come with the brand now fully revealing the car.

Nissan New Zealand has still not offered any comment about the new model, which once again is being produced in the United Kingdom.

Whether this market will be in line for the new hybrids – psrticularly the top version of which combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor - remains unknown, though given the national climate for such powertrains is warming, the tech would seem to have a good chance.

As previously reported, also offering is a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol related to that of the current car, but with its own internal improvements to reduce fuel consumption. This unit is now mated to an uprated 12-volt electrical system, known as Advanced Lithium-ion battery System. 

With Nissan’s hybrid the 115kW petrol engine doesn’t ever drive the wheels directly - instead it sends all of its exertions to a power generator, inverter and 140kW (electric motor that's similar to the one found in the likes of the Nissan Leaf fully electric.

It drives through the Xtronic CVT automatic and also comes with the option of four-wheel drive, with five driving modes - Standard, Eco, Sport, Snow and Off-Road.

The e-Pedal system that features on the Leaf also enacts on the five-door crossover, meaning drivers can make use of one pedal driving. Stepping off the throttle can provide up to 0.2G of regenerative deceleration without any need to touch the brake. 

The revised 1.3 turbo comes in two states of tune, 102kW and 116kW. The more powerful avails with a CVT automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive; the other with a manual six-speed.

The styling is familiar, but the shape is more smoothed-off and more creased in places; it also has the same family face premiered by the smaller Juke. There's also, for the first time, the choice of having 20-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, visibility is said to be improved and there's more room for passengers in the rear - with the back doors opening by up to 80 degrees to make ingress and egress as simple as possible - and the boot space has gone up by 50 litres compared to the old model, too. This is accessed by a powered tailgate as standard.

 Up front, there's an updated and significantly sharper infotainment system plus heavily digital interface. Besides the nine-inch touchscreen, which contains the navigation, onboard entertainment and more, there's a 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster, while a 10.8-inch head-up display is the biggest in this segment.

New Pathfinder smartens up

New tech and fresh styling, plus a return to an automatic transmission, with current underpinning and engine retained.

NISSAN has revealed the next generation of its Pathfinder sports utility, but has yet to make clear if it will be available in New Zealand.

Designed and built in its primary market, North America, the new model presents a new styling on top of a current platform that has been extensively re-engineered.

The sole engine being discussed for now is a 3.5-litre petrol V6 that’s been a Nissan stalwart though it has slightly more power and torque, with an uplift to 212kW and 351Nm, but a hybrid featuring a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol is said to be in the wings.

Plus, the transmission is new, Nissan having divorced the current model’s constantly variable unit for a nine-speed orthodox automatic. The model avails in front as well as four-wheel-drive.

Other news is that it seats eight, over three rows, and loads up on latest Nissan technology, including a swish infotainment suite.

Much of the old car remains under the new model's skin, with the new SUV sharing the previous model's 2900mm wheelbase. Overall length has shrunk by 38mm to 5003mm, while the car's width and height have grown by around 19mm and 12mm to 1979mm and 1778mm respectively.

The body styling rework delivers the company's new design language, expressed particularly strongly up front with C-shaped LED headlights and signature daytime-running lights, plus Nissan's 'V-motion' grille.

The eight-seat layout is standard, but a seven-seat configuration is an option, the latter taking individual chairs in the second row separated by a removable centre console.

Comfort levels step up. The driver and front passenger enjoy climate-controlled seats and even the third row seats can be heated. The interior is dressed in semi-aniline leather.

The new infotainment provisions with a 9.0-inch touchscreen running a 'NissanConnect' system, including wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto capability and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The driver gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel with a 10.8-inch head-up display, while other interior featured include wireless smartphone charging, satellite navigation, a 360-degree camera, and a Bose premium audio system with 13 speakers.

Nissan's release today speaks of an onboard 'ProPilot Assist' system with adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, to offer semi-autonomous speed control on highways. The brand's 'Safety Shield 360' safety suite offers front and rear autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning and high-beam assist.

Modest price hit for Navara refresh

It’s more than just a fresh face, but the biggest single increase appears to be $1300.

ENHANCING the safety spec, improving refinement, delivering a restyling and introducing of a new flagship model have hardly impacted on Nissan Navara pricing.

In advance of delivering the facelifted model line, Nissan New Zealand has sent out RRPs to its dealers and it appears to be a good news story.

The biggest increase seems to be a $1300 hit, for the ST doublecab automatic four-wheel-drive.

Many other derivatives go up by much less – in one case by a mere $300 – and in two instances, the stickers have reduced.

The ST four-wheel-drive auto doublecab is down $1100 and the range’s new flagship, the Pro-4X (pictured), at $70,400 in automatic form is $6200 cheaper than the top dog of the outgoing range, the N-Trek.

Whether the Pro-4X replaces the latter is still a matter for conjecture; it’s a factory flagship that might yet become a base for a new N-Trek (a package created in Australia for Nissan by a third party developer).

The updated line comprises five rear-drive models and 11 editions with on-demand four-wheel-drive, all with a 2.3-litre four-cylinder twin turbo diesel engine.

The 2021 lineup presents the first big facelift for the ute and introduces five years into its life cycle.

Not everything changes. The engine continues to make 140kW and 450Nm and remains wed to the existing seven-speed auto. Suspension tune is not touched. Towing capacity remains capped at 3500kg but Nissan has indicated improved payload, with up to 1.1-tonnes of carrying capacity in the Pro-4X and up to 1.2 tonnes on workhorse models.  

However, it’s not challenging to pick the new from the old.

The biggest obvious visual revision is to the front. The fresh face is a shared identity – the next-size-up Nissan Titan in North America has much the same look. Aside from the XL-sized grille, Navara takes bi-LED headlights with C-shaped daylight running lights. 

All this means it adopts new sheetmetal forward of the windscreen, bonnet included. The rear outer skins, tailgate, wheel arch flares and tail-lights are come in for re-sculpting.

The sides of the ute tub are 20mm higher, though this is more for styling than to create extra usable space and the tailgate hinge is spring-loaded. 

The interior gets a minor makeover and a more compact steering wheel, with extra buttons which work in conjunction with a larger digital display between analogue dials in the instrument cluster. The steering wheel still only has tilt adjustment rather than height and reach adjustment. A new laminated windscreen, thicker side glass, and extra sound-deadening behind the dash promise a quieter driving experience.

The Navara moves to autonomous emergency braking, forward crash alert, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind zone warning for the first time. So, a step up … but still a step behind the likes of the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50.  

Nissan is yet to outline if this advanced safety tech will be on all variants.

As before, top-end Navara models come with push button start, dual zone air-conditioning, rear air vents, heated front seats, power folding sides mirrors, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and embedded navigation. The infotainment is the same system that came with an update 18 months ago.

Juke recall gives new meaning to sticker shock

Don’t worry, it seems only the neighbours are upset by this issue.

COULD it legitimately be called a jack-up? 

A recall action for the latest Nissan Juke, that seems not to have impact on examples shipped to New Zealand, is certainly something out of the ordinary.

It seems the car has become subject to a precautionary check-over action across the Tasman because the jack that comes with the car does not comply with Australian safety standards.

The problem isn’t with the device itself – it’s in perfect condition to undertake the job of lifting the vehicle off the ground to change tyres. 

It’s all down to it not having a label that passes muster with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

It says the jacks do not comply with Australian safety standards due to the omission of a correct instruction label. Not having this could potentially cause an accident if a vehicle is not jacked correctly by the operator.

Affected vehicles were sold between 20 May 2020 and 2 September 2020. Nissan Australia is contacting owners to organise inspection and repair of the defect. 

As for New Zealand? Well, we take the same stock as Australia, but there has been no word from Nissan New Zealand – whose new boss in still stuck in Australia, due to coronavirus travel restrictions – and, from a quick check with a local dealer, the consternation raised across the Tasman has not been felt here. ‘All news to me’ was the local comment, with thought no action is required here.

Navara refresh a styling, spec spruce-up

It’s more than just a fresh face – the updated Navara has been revealed.

ADDITIONAL safety tech – but still not as much as others in the category - the promise of improved refinement, a restyling and the introduction of a new flagship model. 

These are among highlights of a facelift for the Nissan Navara, introduced five years into the model’s life cycle and set to hit New Zealand early next year.

What doesn’t change? The engine’s outputs, the towing capacity and the suspension tune.  

The biggest obvious visual evision is to the front. The fresh face is a shared identity – the next-size-up Nissan Titan in North America has much the same look. Aside from the XL-sized grille, Navara takes bi-LED headlights with C-shaped daylight running lights.

All this means it adopts new sheetmetal forward of the windscreen, bonnet included. The rear outer skins, tailgate, wheel arch flares and tail-lights are come in for re-sculpting.

The images Nissan has provided are of the new flagship, called Pro-4X. This is a new global name for the top dog model; it’s assumed it will bump the Navara N-Trek, yet there’s also though the N-Trek fitout – mainly developed in Australia – can carry into the new line, so expect it to re-emerge as a localised special edition, some time after the factory models have settled in. Navara Pro-4X Warrior is being bandied already. 

There is no extra power or torque from the twin turbo 2.3-litre four-cylinder diesel. Is 140kW and 450Nm enough? The familiar engine remains wed to a familiar transmission, a seven-speed auto.

Towing capacity remains capped at 3500kg but Nissan has indicated improved payload, with up to 1.1-tonnes of carrying capacity in the Pro-4X and up to 1.2 tonnes on workhorse models.

The sides of the ute tub are 20mm higher, though this is more for styling than to create extra usable space and the tailgate hinge is spring-loaded. 

The suspension has not been updated because Nissan is happy with the third iteration of the suspension tune, according to overseas reports.

The interior gets a minor makeover and a more compact steering wheel, with extra buttons which work in conjunction with a larger digital display between analogue dials in the instrument cluster. The steering wheel still only has tilt adjustment rather than height and reach adjustment. A new laminated windscreen, thicker side glass, and extra sound-deadening behind the dash promise a quieter driving experience.

Safety systems? It moves to autonomous emergency braking, forward crash alert, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind zone warning for the first time. So, a step up … but still a step behind the likes of the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50. Nissan is yet to outline if  this advanced safety tech will be on all variants.

As before, top-end Navara models come with push button start, dual zone air-conditioning, rear air vents, heated front seats, power folding sides mirrors, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and embedded navigation. The infotainment is the same system that came with an update 18 months ago.

Local details, including prices, are expected to be released closer to launch.

Hey, it’s the new Z!

Nissan has unveiled a concept offering an early look at what will be the first new version of its most famous two-seater sports car in more than a decade.

 SO how many can you see?

References to past Z-cars, that is.

Let’s just agree there are plenty. Which is the irony in Nissan’s claim for the Z-Proto. 

This concept pointing to “a new generation of the legendary Z car” seems unable to break away from the type’s past. Which probably pleases the fanbase greatly yet might also disappoint those expecting something a little more creative.

As much as this is a design study – sorry, a "development study vehicle" in Nissan-speak -  and despite its maker being reluctant to share very many technical details, Nissan has identified what we see here is a "near-production protoype," and confirmed it will outfit with a twin-turbo V6 engine – the first since the 300ZX - and manual transmission.

As is patently obviously, the styling is clearly reminiscent of many old Zs.

Basically, every old Z. And that’s a few, given the sporting sub-brand has a 50-year history. 

The front-end with teardrop headlights and long bowed bonnet is from the 240 and 260 Z era.

The side profile? Just like that of the original. Look at the rear end and tell me you don’t see the 300ZX? The bootlid appears to feature a Fairlady Z badge – a name used for the original in Japan and the US, but often seen here as well, thanks to the used import trade. The pod gauges on top of the dashboard (one for turbo boost pressure) and door handles? Clear links to the 370Z. 

Easy peasy so far. But perhaps the reason why it has teardrop-shaped LED headlights will sort the regular fan types from the hardcore. Answer? They reference a particular rarity, the Japan-only 240ZG of the 1970s.

The yellow paint used is also an ode to popular paint choice colours for both the original S30 and subsequent Z32 generations, according to Nissan.

It’s not all backward-looking. The rectangular front grille, 19in alloy wheels and carbonfibre side skirts aim to modernise the look, the brand expressed during today’s international, on line reveal.

Nonetheless, the make’s head of design, Alfonso Albaisa, has conceded that the process to determine this design very much involved “making countless studies and sketches as we researched each generation and what made them a success.”

 “Ultimately, we decided the Z Proto should travel between the decades, including the future.”

The cabin is finished in black Alcantara-like material, yellow stitching highlights and has a fully digital 12.3-inch display dash for the driver.

There’s still a vintage aesthetic in that, as with every Z car, the design is centred around the driver with dials and gauges facing from the centre towards the most important seating position in the car.

The car measure 4382mm long, 1850mm wide and 1310mm high, and rides on 19-inch black alloys wrapped in special 255/40 front and 285/35 rear rubber.

The engine seems likely to be the unit found in the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport, where it creates 300kW of power and 475Nm of torque. Enough to give rivals like the Toyota Supra a real run, right? Particularly since the sports car should be significantly lighter than Infiniti. 

When is it coming to our market? No date has been provided for the launch of the production car, though chances of it achieving showroom status within a year would seem as safe a bet as the proposal it’ll be called  ‘400Z’. 

 Nissan New Zealand has yet to offer any comment.