Nissan Motor Co Ltd announced that it will add a seven-seat model dubbed the Qashqai+2 to its compact SUV "Qashqai" line.
Designed and engineered by Nissan's European design center, the vehicle has a larger body to accommodate the third row of seats. The third row is for passengers of up to about 160cm in height. Unlike a minivan, the third row is not designed for use at all times, but it is targeted for users who utilize the third row as seats to hold extra passengers.
The Qashqai+2 will be on display at British International Motor Show 2008.
The vehicle measures 4,526 (L) x 1,643mm (H), and the wheelbase is 2,365mm long. Compared with the five-seater model, the body and the wheelbase are 211 and 135mm longer, respectively. To ensure ample headroom in the third row of seats, the vehicle height was increased by 38mm. As a result, the headroom in the first row was increased by 16mm, while that in the second row was increased by 10mm.
The footspace in the second row is also increased by 23mm, and the seats in the second row can be slid back and forth so that the passengers can easily get in and out of the third row. In contrast to the five-seat model with a 60/40 split backrest, Qashqai+2 has a 40/20/40 split folding backrest.
The seats in the third row have foldaway headrests and the backrests are integrated with the luggage room floor when folded flat. With the third row folded away, the luggage room capacity is increased to 500L, which is 90L larger than that in the five-seat model. The tailgate opening space was also expanded. With the provision of the third row, the new model is 100kg heavier.
The portion forward of the front pillar has the same design as that of the five-seat version, except for a redesigned front grill. In line with the modification of the roof shape, the rear side doors, the tailgate and the bumper in the rear portion are redesigned, while the side windows are extended.
A roof rail, privacy glass for the side windows in the back and rear windshield, and the glass roof, which is popular in the five-seat model, are provided as standard. The glass roof is stretched by 140mm and has an electric sunshade.
The power train comes in four types: 1.6L and 2.0L gasoline engines, and 1.5L and 2.0L diesel engines. The diesel engines come with DPF and the 2.0L engines are equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. For the 2.0L gasoline and diesel engine models, Nissan offers a version with an "ALL-MODE" four-wheel system in addition to the two-wheel drive version.
Slated for launch in Europe October 2008, Qashqai+2 will be manufactured at the plant in Sunderland, UK, like the five-seat model. In January 2008, the plant transferred the production of vehicles for Japan to the Kyushu Plant. The Sunderland Plant will strengthen its production system by operating on triple shifts in order to meet the increase in production.
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