Europe’s best-selling crossover gets premium upgrades as the new model starts production.

• Europe’s best-selling crossover gets premium upgrades

Production of the new Nissan Qashqai has begun, introducing a raft of premium design, technology and performance improvements to Europe’s best-selling crossover.

Made at Nissan’s plant in Sunderland, UK, upgrades to the new model focus on four areas – a contemporary new exterior design; higher levels of interior quality; improved driving performance; and the addition of new Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies.

The new Qashqai will also be available with ProPILOT autonomous driving capability, which controls the steering, acceleration and braking in a single lane on highways during heavy traffic congestion and high-speed cruising, from Spring next year.

These significant new enhancements will underpin and strengthen the Qashqai’s position as Europe’s number one crossover, and follow a £53m investment in Nissan’s UK facilities, which includes extra production capacity introduced last year to enable Qashqai to be built on both lines in Sunderland.

Made round the clock in Sunderland, the Qashqai is currently the best-selling vehicle built in Britain, and is exported to around 100 European and global markets. It represents almost one in five of all British-made cars, and is Nissan’s most successful model ever in Europe.

Colin Lawther, Nissan’s Senior Vice President for Manufacturing, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management in Europe, said: “The Nissan Qashqai is the original urban crossover and remains the undisputed leader in the segment.

“In the decade since Qashqai launched we have built more than 2.8m in Sunderland, taking plant output to record levels. Offering new premium design features and Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies, this new model marks a new chapter for Qashqai and for our manufacturing operations.”

Employment supported by Nissan’s UK design studio (Paddington, London), technical centre (Cranfield Bedfordshire), manufacturing plant (Sunderland, Tyne and Wear) and sales and marketing operations (Maple Cross, Hertfordshire) now totals more than 40,000. Nissan has made more than £4bn capital investment in these facilities, and additionally spends £3bn annually in the British economy through suppliers, services and wages.

In addition to the Qashqai, Nissan also manufactures the all-electric LEAF, Juke crossover and Infiniti Q30 and QX30 premium models in Sunderland. With total production last year at 507,436 vehicles, and with more than 30 years of success behind it, Sunderland is the biggest UK car plant of all time.

Following the start of production in Sunderland, Qashqai reached the milestones of 1m and 2m units faster than any vehicle in the history of the UK automotive industry, and is well on the way to reaching 3m units in record time.

The first-generation Nissan Qashqai went on sale in 2007. This new version represents a major refresh for the second-generation model, launched in 2014. It goes on sale across Europe from next month. In October 2016 Nissan announced that production of an all-new, third-generation Qashqai would also be at Sunderland.

The new Micra now with an entry level petrol engine which will take about 20% of sales.

• Highly efficient 71PS entry level petrol model at retailers for demonstration drives
• Will account for approximately 20% of Micra sales
• Launch line-up of three Micra engines now complete
• All-new Micra features expressive design, uplifting interior and confident drive 

The launch range of the all-new Nissan Micra has been completed with the arrival at retailers of the eagerly anticipated 1.0-litre 71PS entry-level model. 

While it’s the last of three launch engines to go on sale, it will play a vital role in the Micra success story. It is expected to account for approximately 20% of sales. 

Offering an excellent balance of performance and running costs, the three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine is linked to a five-speed manual transmission. This highly efficient powertrain results in official Combined Cycle fuel economy of 4.6 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of 103g/km when running on 15 or 16-inch wheels. 

The new 1.0-litre 71PS engine joins the 0.9-litre 90PS three-cylinder turbo petrol and the 1.5-litre 90PS four-cylinder diesel, which went on sale earlier this year. 

The new Nissan Micra is quite simply a revolution. It is a radical progression from the model it has replaced, and from the trio of highly successful superminis which date back to the Micra’s debut in Europe in 1983. 

Longer, wider and lower than ever before, the all-new Micra has been conceived, designed and engineered with European customers’ requirements at the top of the agenda. 

Key to its appeal is the hatchback’s athletic and expressive exterior design, which moves the Micra name plate in a daring new direction. The contemporary look and premium feel continues inside, with a high-quality cabin that boasts two-tone soft-touch materials as standard across the range. 

The all-new Micra is also a technology leader, with a number of features which are not only new to the Micra but new to the segment. These include Intelligent Lane Intervention, a safety system which gently corrects the Micra back on to the right path should it be required. 

Also unique to Micra is the BOSE Personal audio system, which features speakers built into the driver’s head rest for an immersive 360° sound experience. The new Micra is available with a wide range of personalisation options, allowing owners to modify the exterior and interior with premium components in a variety of stylish and contemporary colours. 

The new Micra is also a fantastic car to drive, with a dynamic performance that is the perfect balance between agility, excitement and the secure feeling that comes with confident and predictable handling. 

The Nissan X-Trail top models can come with an added option of a GPS enhanced Drone.

• Special version pack X-Trail crossover with advanced Parrot Bebop 2 drone as standard
• ‘Follow me’ tracking option ensures owners can create lasting memories of family adventures
• First Person View (FPV) functionality means unique footage of days out
• Backpack storage for ultimate portability
• Available on all N-Vision and Tekna grades as a £500 option

The Nissan X-Trail is the perfect crossover for family adventures, and a new special version pack boosts that to a thrilling new level. An unusual extra feature has been added to the car’s specification, allowing customers to create lasting memories of their exploits.

On sale now, the Nissan X-Trail X-Scape comes with a compact and lightweight drone as standard. It’s equipped with advanced ‘follow me’ GPS and visual tracking technology*, so users on the move can capture amazing photos and video footage of their days out with their drone following them autonomously.

That could be in their Nissan X-Trail, or on foot, bicycle, canoe, skateboard and any other suitable mode of transport.

The drone – a Parrot Bebop 2 weighing just 500g – features Nissan branding and comes with a Parrot Skycontroller 2 remote control and Parrot Cockpitglasses headset. These allow First Person View (FPV) functionality via a live feed from the 14 megapixel camera, for a truly immersive experience and unique bird’s eye views of adventure locations.

The drone’s exceptional manoeuvrability and digitally stabilised camera create a fantastic filming platform, for great results over a flight time of up to 25 minutes. For ultimate portability, the drone and supporting equipment come with a bespoke backpack-style padded storage case.

The X-Trail X-Scape Special Version pack is available across the X-Trail range on all N-Vision and Tekna versions as a £500 option, which can be specified when ordering via Nissan retailers.

X-Trail X-Scape special version packs also feature NissanConnect infotainment system with satellite navigation for hassle-free journeys to adventurous destinations. The panoramic sunroof with one-touch electric sunshade means the views should be spectacular, and roof rails allow bikes and canoes to be carried with ease.

Both five and seven-seat interiors of the Nissan X-Trail can be specified and premium X-Trail floor mats are also included. Planned production of the X-Trail X-Scape special version is approximately 1,200 units across Europe, with 200 units allocated for the UK.

Nissan launches two new special editions based on the Compact Crossover - Juke.

Nissan launches two new Juke Special Versions

• Pioneering compact crossover range gets two new special versions
• Juke Tekna Pulse features upgraded sound system for improved in-car listening Exclusivity with a limited production run of only 1,500 models
• Special version Juke N-Connecta Style also joins the range
• Both versions feature exterior and interior personalisation packs included as standard

The original compact crossover, Nissan Juke now gets even more expressive with two stylish new special versions joining the range - the Juke Tekna Pulse and Juke N-Connecta Style – which are both on sale now.

Juke Tekna Pulse

Music fans take note. The Juke Tekna Pulse comes equipped with an upgraded and more powerful audio system, providing a more immersive listening experience than ever before.

The enhancement is one of a number of sophisticated features being introduced as standard on the Juke Tekna Pulse, offering customers exceptional value for money.

New speakers from respected French audio company Focal are at the heart of the upgraded Juke Tekna Pulse. Focal’s unique processing technology provides a more precise listening experience. The special 6-speaker sound system, engineered with signature polyglass, DFS and inverted dome aluminium technologies, delivers crystal-clear audio in an immersive soundscape.

Maximum power is raised from 40 watts to 120 watts in the front and rear speakers, and from 40 watts to 100 watts in the tweeters.

The Juke Tekna Pulse special version is available with a choice of two exterior colours – Metallic Black or Dark Grey – and each can be selected in either flagship Tekna or N-Connecta grade. Both feature the Juke’s black exterior personalisation pack and striking 18-inch alloy wheels with black inserts as standard.

Enhancements continue inside the cabin, with sports pedals and luxury floor mats included on all versions, further enhancing the black interior personalisation pack. Tekna models also come with premium leather seats, while N-Connecta grade examples receive new-to-Juke part-leather seats.

Prices for Juke Tekna Pulse start from £20,700 for the DIG-T 115 turbo petrol and £22,305 for the dCi 110 turbo diesel. A production run of just 1,500 cars is planned.

Juke N-Connecta Style

The Juke N-Connecta Style offers an enhanced version of the N-Connecta grade, with exterior and interior personalisation plus packs included. The Exterior Personalisation pack enhances Juke’s styling cues with colour co-ordinated bumper and headlight finishers, mirror covers, vibrant 18-inch alloy wheel inserts in Tokyo Black. The Interior Personalisation pack comprises premium sports seats with striking Tokyo Black trim to match the centre console and door strips. Xenon headlights are now also included as standard.

Juke N-Connecta Style is priced starting from £18,755 for the DIG-T 115 petrol engine, and £20,360 for the dCi 110 diesel engine.

All the numbers that surround the success of the Nissan Qashqai since the first model arrived 10 years ago.

• All-new Nissan video showcases a different side of the Qashqai’s success story

Nissan has focused on the number 10 during January and February, as the Qashqai celebrates a decade of sales success and crossover leadership. To mark the anniversary, the brand has released an all-new video showcasing some of the other numbers which have made the Qashqai Europe’s best-selling crossover.

There’s no doubt that 2.3 million – the number of Qashqai sold in Europe since it was launched in February 2007 – is one of the most impressive figures.

Also worth noting is the number 21. That’s how many rival models have been launched since the Nissan Qashqai pioneered the crossover segment as the industry knows it today. But you can see below why this number is relevant for a very different reason.

Here are just some of the numbers which have made the Qashqai such a success story for Nissan:

3.3 million – Qashqai sold globally since February 2007, when the car first went on sale

2.3 million – Qashqai sold in Europe over the same period

75,000 – the number of ‘continuous quality assurance’ tests Nissan engineers have carried out on the Qashqai since 2007

45,000 – an estimate of how many jobs in Europe are supported by the Qashqai, across Nissan’s facilities and with suppliers

2,708 – parts in a second-generation Nissan Qashqai

2,015 – the year in which the Nissan plant in St Petersburg, Russia started to build the Qashqai, to keep up with customer demand

600 – number of days which the Nissan Qashqai’s audio system was played at full volume, to ensure it sounds crystal-clear all through the car’s life

226 – companies which supply parts for the second-generation Nissan Qashqai

99 – countries where the Nissan Qashqai is currently on sale

81 – major awards which the Nissan Qashqai has won since its launch 10 years ago

62 – seconds that it takes for another new Qashqai to roll off the production line at Nissan’s state-of-the-art plant in Sunderland, UK

21 – months it took the second-generation Qashqai to sell 500,000 units. No other British-built car has reached that total so quickly

19 – countries in which the Nissan Qashqai has been voted ‘Car of the Year’

10 – years since the original Qashqai was launched

5 – the number of model variants sold so far. They are first-generation Qashqai (launched 2007); Qashqai+2 (2008); Qashqai minor change (2010); Qashqai+2 minor change (2010); all-new second-generation Qashqai (2014).

1.5 – the size of the diesel engine, in litres, of the most popular version of the Qashqai. Mated to a two-wheel drive / six-speed manual transmission, and finished in Pearlescent Black in N-Connecta grade, it’s the top-selling model.

1 – when it comes to crossovers, Qashqai was the first. Nissan invented the segment and remains Europe’s best-selling crossover.

Europe's biggest selling All Electric commercial Vehicle is the Nissan e-NV200.

• The all-electric Nissan e-NV200 is the best-selling electric van in 2016, across 17 countries in Europe
• Total Nissan e-NV200 sales increased by 7 percent in 2016
• UK, Norway and France are the top three markets for e-NV200 sales
• Nissan offers a five year / 60,000 mile warranty on all new Nissan e-NV200s

The Nissan e-NV200 topped the charts to become Europe’s best-selling electric van in 2016.* The award-winning all-electric van ranked number one in 17 countries across Europe, ahead of its competitors in the category.

The UK is the top market in Europe for Nissan e-NV200, followed closely by Norway and France. Sales were up 20% on the previous year and alongside the LEAF, Nissan’s electric vehicle models command almost 50% of the entire EV market in the UK. 

In the UK, sales of e-NV200 have more than doubled since launching in 2014 with the model claiming just over 82% market share in 2016.

With overall Nissan e-NV200 sales up 7 percent in 2016 compared to the previous year with 4,319 units registered throughout Europe, it is clear the popularity of this 100 percent electric van is on the rise.

Gareth Dunsmore, Director of Electric Vehicles at Nissan Europe, said: “As more and more businesses focus on reducing their carbon footprint, the need to find zero emission transport solutions is becoming more important than ever. Through Nissan Intelligent Mobility, we are working towards a sustainable future and our e-NV200 complements our vision perfectly whilst catering to a wide range of customer needs.

“Aside from its obvious environmental advantages, e-NV200 owners also benefit from its low-running costs, starting from as little as two pence per mile, a smooth and near-silent ride and 40 percent lower servicing costs when compared with an equivalent diesel vehicle.”

Nissan e-NV200 customers can also benefit from Nissan’s recently introduced five year / 60,000 mile warranty** on new e-NV200s. The five year warranty covers mechanical and electrical vehicle components, battery capacity, corrosion (up to 12 years) and roadside assistance.

The Nissan e-NV200 is the perfect transport solution for families and businesses alike, combining the best of Nissan’s NV200 van with zero-emission technology from the world’s best–selling electric car, the Nissan LEAF. Available in both commercial van and fully trimmed Combi and Evalia passenger variants, the e-NV200 line-up offers a variety of options to suit every requirement; including a panel van, five-seat and seven-seat option and a driving range of up to 106 miles on a single charge.***

*Based on consolidated registration figures from official sources in Europe on December 31^st, 2016 (all Europe except Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, and Moldova).

**The Basic Vehicles Warranty according to 3.1 of the Warranty Booklet and Maintenance Record is extended to five-Year (from the warranty start date)/ 60,000 mile (whichever comes first) warranty for e-NV200. Body parts and paint excluded during year four and year five. Terms and exclusions apply accordingly, for further information please see Extended Warranty Terms and Conditions. Apart from the afore-mentioned, all warranty conditions included in the Warranty Booklet and Maintenance Record remain unchanged. Issuer of this Extended Warranty is Nissan International Insurance Ltd.

***A range of up to 106 miles per full charge (based on new European Driving Cycle). Actual consumption and range may vary due to driving style road condition, air-conditioning and other factors outside our control.

Nissan announces production and sales for the year 2016, Sales are growing worldwide.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced its production, sales and export figures for December 2016 and calendar year 2016.

"This was a record year for global sales and production," said Executive Vice President Daniele Schillaci, global head of marketing and sales. "Growth was led by robust demand for models such as the Rogue and Maxima in the U.S., and the Qashqai and Lannia in China."

"In 2017, we will continue to benefit from an influx of new products in key regions. In Japan, sales of the new Note and Serena will help us maintain the momentum we've seen over the last few months. In Europe, initial responses to the new Micra compact car have been overwhelmingly positive, and in the U.S., we will reinforce our offerings in the crossover segment with the launch of the Rogue Sport this spring."

1. Production

December

Nissan's global production in December increased 5.8 percent year-on-year to 462,510 units, the eleventh consecutive month of increase.

Production in Japan increased 31.5 percent year-on-year to 97,057 units, the fifth consecutive month of increase.

Production outside Japan increased 0.6 percent year-on-year to 365,453 units, the twentieth consecutive month of increase and a record for the month of December.

In the U.S., production decreased 11.2 percent year-on-year to 67,883 units.

In Mexico, production increased 7.9 percent year-on-year to 56,651 units, a record for the month of December.

In the U.K., production increased 7.9 percent year-on-year to 30,131 units.

In Spain, production increased 3.1 percent year-on-year to 7,642 units.

In China, production increased 0.8 percent year-on-year to 140,753 units, a record for the month of December.

Production in other regions increased 5.1 percent year-on-year to 62,393 units.

Calendar Year 2016

Nissan's global production in 2016 increased 7.5 percent year-on-year to 5,556,241 units, the seventh consecutive year of increase and a calendar-year record.

Production in Japan increased 8.9 percent year-on-year to 950,102 units, the first increase in four years.

Production outside Japan increased 7.2 percent year-on-year to 4,606,139 units, the seventh consecutive year of increase and a calendar-year record.

In the U.S., production increased 4.7 percent year-on-year to 1,007,321 units, a calendar-year record.

In Mexico, production increased 3.1 percent year-on-year to 848,086 units, a calendar–year record.

In the U.K., production increased 6.5 percent year-on-year to 507,447 units.

In Spain, production increased 15.8 percent year-on-year to 121,260 units.

In China, production increased 9.5 percent year-on-year to 1,320,687 units, a calendar-year record.

Production in other regions increased 10.6 percent year-on-year to 801,338 units.

2. Sales

December

Global sales increased 6.2 percent year-on-year to 559,361 units, the fifth consecutive month of increase and a record for the month of December.

Japan:

Sales including mini-vehicles increased 25.6 percent year-on-year to 46,785 units.

• Vehicle registrations increased 36.2 percent year-on-year to 33,022 units.
• Mini-vehicle sales increased 6.0 percent year-on-year to 13,763 units.

Sales outside Japan increased 4.7 percent year-on-year to 512,576 units, the seventh consecutive month of increase and a record for a single month.

In the U.S., sales increased 9.7 percent year-on-year to 152,743 units, a record for the month of December.

In Mexico, sales increased 23.2 percent year-on-year to 47,771 units, a record for a single month.

In Europe, sales increased 1.9 percent year-on-year to 64,192 units.

In China, sales increased 2.1 percent year-on-year to 162,473 units, a record high for a single month.

Calendar Year 2016

Global sales increased 2.5 percent year-on-year to 5,559,902 units, the seventh consecutive year of increase and a calendar-year record.

Japan:

• Sales including mini-vehicles decreased 9.3 percent year-on-year to 534,392 units.
• Vehicle registrations increased 2.0 percent year-on-year to 385,603 units.
• Mini-vehicle sales decreased 29.4 percent year-on-year to 148,789 units.

Sales outside Japan increased 4.0 percent year-on-year to 5,025,510 units, the seventh consecutive year of increase and a calendar-year record.

In the U.S., sales increased 5.4 percent year-on-year to 1,564,423 units, a calendar-year record.

In Mexico, sales increased 15.6 percent year-on-year to 403,286 units, a calendar-year record.

In Europe, sales decreased 0.7 percent year-on-year to 755,599 units.

In China, sales increased 8.4 percent year-on-year to 1,354,552 units, a calendar-year record.

3. Exports from Japan

December

Exports in December increased 38.3 percent year-on-year to 64,692 units, the eighth consecutive month of increase.

Calendar Year 2016

Exports increased 8.1 percent year-on-year to 560,823 units, the second consecutive month of increase.