UNDERPINNING the all-new Nissan Qashqai is the new Alliance CMF-C platform, which has allowed Nissan’s product-planners, designers and engineers to create a vehicle which succeeds in reconciling the challenging customer demands in terms of design, spaciousness, dynamics and carbon footprint.

The CMF-C platform is a completely new architecture, designed and developed to ensure the vehicles it carries are competitive, offering the driving and ownership experience that customers will need in a time of dramatic progress in the automotive industry.

In terms of driving dynamics, one of the most significant factors in the dynamic performance is the overall increase of stiffness in the new Qashqai’s body in white – with a 48% improvement compared to the outgoing model. With a more rigid basis, Nissan’s engineers have been able to more precisely tune the suspension spring and damper rates, knowing they are reacting to the changes in surfaces – not the movements of the platform. This increases precision, response and reduces vibrations.

Despites its overall increase in stiffness, the bodyshell is over 60kg lighter which contributes to the new Qashqai’s overall efficiency, while also reducing inertia when driving, so drivers will feel the improvement in agility.

There are two rear suspension configurations, with a torsion beam being the configuration for two-wheel drive Qashqai on 19-inch wheels or below. The torsion beam has been upgraded from the outgoing Qashqai, with a new upper body insulator which increases local body stiffness and reduces the transmission of vibrations to the passenger compartment. And the addition of an uprated bump stop, which helps to infuse the rear suspension with a more supple motion and protection from shocks.

Reworked steering configuration

Drivers of the outgoing Qashqai will immediately notice the positive changes to the steering, where the feeling around the straight-ahead position is more positive and defined. This is a consequence of moving the power assistance motor directly adjacent to the steering rack. This has reduced the feeling of friction through the steering wheel, but gives a more natural increase in steering effort as more steering lock is applied.

The steering ratio has changed from 19.1:1 to 14.7:1, resulting in a quicker response on turn-in. Combined with the stiffer chassis, drivers will immediately detect the improvement in agility, increasing the sense of fun-to-drive. The turning circle remains unchanged compared to the outgoing model at 11.5m.

Another advantage of the CMF-C platform is that it has allowed the fitment of 20-inch wheels, without affecting the turning lock of the front wheels or compromising the ingress and egress of the rear doors.

Two innovative electrified powertrains

Qashqai will come with two different powertrain options, the 1.3-litre petrol with mild hybrid, which is offered with two outputs.

The 12V ALiS (Advanced Lithium-ion battery System) mild hybrid system available on new Qashqai is a more affordable hybrid technology that provides torque assist, extended idle stop, quick restart and coasting stop (Xtronic only), with improvements to both fuel economy and CO2 output (-4g/km). The ALiS mild hybrid system adds just 22kg to the overall vehicle mass.