This article is reproduced from the autocarweekly WeChat public account.
Author: Hu Laquan
The word “new” has always been a high threshold in the automotive industry. There are so many new models, and it’s not just calling it “new” that can make it “new”. In overseas markets, only when a certain model has been completely updated after several years can the new car be qualified as “ALL NEW”. Once prefixed with “ALL NEW”, it is bound to be completely renewed from top to bottom, and it will be completely different from the previous version.
But today, there are no rules in the market. The term “new” is inflating like Zimbabwean currency: it’s okay to call the updated model “new”, and even the annual models that only have minor adjustments to configurations are labeled as “ALL NEW”. Ordinary consumers don’t know these tricks. The overuse of “new” has made it no longer new and eventually made the word lose its value.
What are the standards for being truly “new”? Is there any standard? The all-new generation of Nissan X-Trail, which is about to be launched, is a good example.
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A true new model must be a big project with large-scale engineering. Piecemeal improvements and incomplete upgrades are inadequate for the title of “new”. As we all know, X-Trail is one of Nissan’s strategic global models. In other words, it integrates global resources, invests in global markets, and targets consumers worldwide.
For the all-new generation of this important model, Nissan has invested a cumulative total of CNY 19 billion and a development period of more than 5 years. This super X-Trail project, which Nissan regards as “Best in One”, has become the largest and most complex project in the brand’s history. Nissan has integrated and mobilized resources from the 4 major core design centers in North America, Europe, Japan, and China worldwide, and the styling, powertrain, and chassis engineering have also been developed according to global standards.
The manufacturer’s degree of attention and the scale of resources invested are the prerequisite for the comprehensive innovation of a new model. Without the determination and strength of resolute investment, “new” will become a word used for decoration.
Thoroughly updating a vehicle usually relies on a brand-new underlying architecture. At the time of this latest update, the 2021 Nissan Qashqai (also known as Rogue Sport in the US) features Nissan’s new platform, the CMF-CD, which is actually the first SUV vehicle model to be born from the CMF global new vehicle platform system. CMF-CD is an important part of the CMF (Common Module Family) platform, with other large Nissan sedans and SUVs to be developed on this foundation in the future.
Unlike other modular platforms from some manufacturers, the new CMF platform further divides the vehicle into five parts: passenger compartment, engine compartment, front chassis, rear chassis, and electronic/electrical architecture. Each part is flexibly developed by independent departments and ultimately combined into the configurations required by specific vehicle models. CMF allows Nissan to use more generic parts, saving costs to improve the overall quality of the parts and raw materials, and allowing vehicles to have a more solid foundation.
Thanks to the CMF-CD platform, the new Qashqai features a semi-aluminum body unique in its class. The large-scale use of new aluminum alloy materials, combined with a redesigned body and chassis structure, offers high rigidity and lightweight advantages. The independently-developed electronic network architecture upgrades the bus to the CAN FD standard, significantly improving communication speed and bandwidth between subsystems. The engine compartment, specially designed for the new generation powertrain, can accommodate Nissan’s original Ultra-Engine, and is equipped with the trendy ALiS 12V light hybrid energy management system.
To ensure the “new” Qashqai rolls off the production line, Nissan has upgraded 11 benchmark factories worldwide at the same time, allowing production methods and processes to keep up with their new generation technology. This includes Dongfeng Nissan’s Wuhan and Zhengzhou factories, which have spent more than 600 million yuan in upgrading processes to produce the new Qashqai. The new production line features stamping, welding, and painting workshops with automation rates of over 95%; new connection processes such as laser welding and SPR self-riveting enable a large amount of aluminum alloy parts to be used in the car body.
It is these unseen foundational basics that ultimately realize the “new” experience for users.
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Investing significant resources to firmly establish the new foundation, how can users experience the “new” Qashqai from Nissan?The first impression is always important and the redesign needs a new “face”. The all-new Nissan Qashqai features Nissan’s latest family design language, the V-Motion 3.0: the signature V-shaped grille has been upgraded to a Double V-Motion face in combination with LED Starship split headlights, forming a sharp and confident front fascia. From the headlights, the U-Sharp power beltline stretches straight to the rear, creating a powerful aesthetic. The floating roof of the two-tone body removes the visual bulkiness of the entire vehicle. The power aesthetic is the main theme of the all-new Nissan Qashqai’s exterior.
The area where users interact with most, the interior, has also been redesigned by designers. With a wheelbase of 2706 mm and a length of 4681 mm, there is plenty of space for internal arrangements. The 7-seat layout remains highly flexible and has up to 25 storage spaces, magically arranged. The new ergonomic model also brings a new Multi-Layer seat design that fully embodies Nissan’s human-centered interior design.
The all-new Nissan Qashqai features a huge three-screen linkage capability: a dual 12.3-inch screen composed of a LCD dashboard and a central control screen, paired with a 10.8-inch HUD head-up display system. The three large screens mean that the driver and passenger can select the interaction mode freely without feeling burdened. Whether it’s the instrument panel, central control, or HUD, there is enough display area for users to operate comfortably.
Humanization does not mean the lack of technological strength. Good support for future technology is also the business card of the “all-new generation” model. Forget those novice automakers who exaggeratedly promote the so-called “autonomous driving”. Nissan’s latest enhanced ProPILOT super intelligent driving technology has already allowed Nissan cars worldwide to improve safety and driving experience at full speed. With the high-bandwidth CAN FD bus equipped with the new platform, the car networking system has been upgraded to Nissan Connect Super Intelligence Link 2.0, and car-home interconnection is easily accessible.
Inside the front compartment, Nissan’s other unique skill is hidden – the world’s only variable compression ratio engine, the VC-TURBO super variable engine 300. The VC-TURBO uses a set of sophisticated multi-link mechanisms to achieve continuous variable engine compression ratio from 8:1 to 14:1. The large compression ratio brings an extremely efficient and energy-saving working process, and the small compression ratio provides vigorous power release. These two conflicting aspects are finally realized in the VC-TURBO in a complementary and unified way. The all-new Nissan Qashqai has a power output of 150 kW and a peak torque of 300 N·m, while the comprehensive fuel consumption can be as low as 5.8 L/100 km.
Benefiting from the new platform CMF-CD, the overall mechanical structure of the VC-TURBO has been elevated to a higher level. In terms of chassis suspension, the front suspension of the all-new Qashqai has been upgraded to a 6-point high-rigidity connection, and the rear suspension has been upgraded to a dual-piston FRD valve system shock absorber, while improving the driving and handling performance and shock absorption comfort of the vehicle as a whole. The transmission system has been replaced with a new generation of CVT intelligent continuously variable transmission, with a speed ratio range increased to the highest level of 8.2:1, resulting in a smoother shifting feel and more extreme energy-saving effect.
As an SUV model, the four-wheel drive system has been upgraded to the second generation 4×4-i intelligent full-mode four-wheel drive. Using the prominent knob on the center console, the driver can switch between five all-terrain modes: off-road, snow, automatic, economy, and sport with one button. The HDC hill descent control, YMC dynamic torque distribution, VMC intelligent body motion control, and other electronic control systems are all available, and the performance of driving on both paved and unpaved roads is comprehensively improved, providing assistance to users unconsciously, even in extreme road conditions, the newly upgraded B-LSD electronic differential lock has a faster locking speed. When the wheels slip, the system can respond more quickly, and the power is transferred from the slipping wheel to the non-slipping wheel, fully demonstrating the value and efficiency of the four-wheel drive system.
Good wine is never afraid of deep alleyways, and truly dedicated “all-new” models will never be buried by the overuse of the term “all-new”. The truly deserving of the prefix ALL NEW, “all-new generation”, and catering to the consumer’s mentality of being fond of novelty, are ultimately those new forces that have invested enormous resources, comprehensively upgraded and restructured, and overall product strength. Nissan’s investment of 19 billion in the massive resources of the domestic market and the all-out efforts to create the all-new generation of Qashqai is precisely based on such full sincerity, which continues to strengthen its position in the SUV market and consolidate its advantages.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.