Qashqai: Nissan's New Take On The Crossover
Published: 7th March 2004
Car of the future?
Satoru Tai says: "Qashqai is a serious design study which shows one direction future Nissan’s vehicles could take. It is aimed at young people who are not constrained by convention; it’s a car that can adapt to its environment just as quickly as they can."
Street language
One final feature of Qashqai’s interior design pays homage to its birthplace and underlines its urban roots. NDE’s home near the Grand Union Canal in London’s Paddington is a unique building called the Rotunda. Constructed from reinforced concrete in 1966, its original role was as a maintenance depot for British Rail.
So striking was the design that it won an Architectural Design Project Award in 1966 and the Concrete Society’s Award three years later and it is now considered one of the most important buildings of the post-war British Modern movement. As a result it carries a Grade II* listing from British Heritage.
Although derelict when taken over by Nissan Design Europe, because of the architectural listing many of the features had to be retained during the building’s make-over… including some period graffiti daubed on the walls.
And this graffiti inspired the motif to be found on the bold slash of colour that rings the passenger’s side of the cockpit. Predominately red, the fabric covered panel that runs clockwise from the centre of the dashboard to the centre of the rear door has a very unusual pattern developed from the wit and wisdom of London’s youth…
Nissan QASHQAI
Our Nissan QASHQAI Guide lists the full specification of the current UK QASHQAI range, including car prices, fuel consumption, dimensions and other vital data.
Price Range: £13,799 - £20,999
Body Style:
Fuel:
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Models in the range: 18
We have road tested the Nissan QASHQAI, to read our in-depth car review:
Nissan QASHQAI Review - Jul 2007
Our Car Buyer’s Guide covers all of the UK’s major new cars and includes CO2 ratings and car insurance groups. Data updated on the 6th July 2008
