Here is the link to the press release:
http://www.carsuk.net/nissan-q...lease/
A few Big things jump out at me:
1) There are 35 different potential combinations of powertrain and options, which IMO makes this a very confusing vehicle to buy. 35 combinations!! You have 4 tranny choices - 6-spd manual (yeah!), 5-spd manual, conventional auto, and CVT, and you have 4 engine choices: gasoline - 1.6, 2.0 diesel 1.5 or 2.0 L, and FWD or AWD.
2) The "PureDrive" is the model with the "most environmentally efficient economy and emissions, this special Qashqai produces only 129g/km of CO2". This is so great yet so sad that we in NA do not embrace this type of technology, instead we more commonly ask for bigger and more powerful engines, when we already have much larger engines than Europen models.
PureDrive is achieved through "weight reduction programme and the adoption of aerodynamic wheel covers, combined with the blanking of the fog lamp sockets, the fitment of low rolling resistance tyres andthe lengthening of the final drive ratio all work to maximise the Qashqai Pure Drive’s efficiency. "
3) "Nissan is the biggest car producer in Britain, and the UK is Nissan's biggest market". This is surprising to me, I didn't realize, I always think of them as #3 in Japan and somewhere down around #7ish in NA.
4) "1 in every 6 cars built in the UK last year was a Qashqai". This is a direct quote from the press release, but I find it very hard to believe. Regardless, they make A LOT of Qashqai's in Europe whereas in NA I don't think the Rogue is anywhere near the popularity of the Honda CRV and Toyota RAV4.
5) They offer a Qashqai +2 model, which I'm assuming means an additional 3rd row seat, not sure how that could fit but it is an option?
I still hate the name Qashqai, and it's interesting that their other crossover, the Murano is also named the Murano in Europe.
Also, I think the styling is much less "agressive" than I would've expected, quite reserved actually, going against the current trends and back to a more basic shape. The first vehicle it reminded me of was the VW Tiguan.