Nissan prepares its next electric hit with its best-selling SUV in Europe
Nissan's plan in Europe is to electrify its entire range of models. In the coming years, we will witness the electrification of its most iconic cars, including its best-selling compact SUV, the Qashqai. Will it say goodbye to combustion engines?
Nissan is undergoing a transformation process in Europe. We won't deny it: they are not going through their best moment, with a drop in sales that will force the Japanese brand into a deep restructuring, which includes moderating investments and laying off employees.
However, Nissan's plans still include betting on full electrification. The technology from the Renault Group will continue to be vital for the Japanese manufacturer to keep up in the race for electric cars.
We already saw it with the new Nissan Micra, "cousin" of the Renault 5, and the completely different LEAF, which has become a 4.35-meter-long SUV based on the CMF-EV modular platform, the same one used by the Ariya, for example. But there will be more, including the two most popular models in the Nissan range.
The next Nissan Qashqai will be electric
Nissan plans for its next model to switch to electric technology to be the Juke, which will accompany a renewed version with thermal engines in the market for an indefinite time. An electric urban vehicle derived from the upcoming Renault Twingo and Dacia Spring should also arrive in 2027.
But the detail we mentioned about the Juke is extremely important because the Japanese do not want to bet everything on electric. The future fourth-generation Nissan Qashqai will follow the same line, although we will ultimately see how the play is defined,
What is clear, as brand officials seem to confirm, is that the current Qashqai, which has just introduced the e-Power hybrid technology, will coexist with the future fully electric version.
Nissan could have done it with the current generation of the Renault Scénic as a reference, but the brand will wait for the development of the second generation of the AmpR Medium platform from Ampere (the aforementioned and known as CMF-EV among the Asians).
"We are considering the AmpR platforms: it is a technical solution that defines the best and most efficient way to market a Nissan. We are open to collaborations, especially in the new world of electric vehicles, where investments are enormous," said Xavier Tesson, Nissan's product planner for Europe.
This new architecture, defined by software, is more attractive to Nissan's interests, as it will not only be adaptable to combustion engine versions but will also allow access to the advantages of 800-volt technology, such as ultra-fast charging.
All of this relates to the "essentials" of the future fourth-generation Qashqai. Aesthetically, the new compact SUV is expected to be inspired by the Hyper Urban prototype presented at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2023. Its production, however, will take place in Sunderland, UK, alongside the new LEAF and the future electric Juke.
Fuente: Autoexpress
