- New Alliance CMF-C platform underpins Qashqai's technological upgrades
- European-led design, development and production to emulate historic success
The new Qashqai is the first model in Europe to use the Alliance CMF-C platform, which represents a state-of-the-art automotive structure and technology architecture.
Central to the engineering concept was to retain the current Qashqai's proportions, which are "just right" and key in its success, meaning it comfortably navigates urban roads and fits comfortably in parking spaces, while also giving excellent interior space.
In terms of construction, the body in white makes use of more lightweight material, as well as advanced stamping and welding techniques to increase strength but to also reduce weight. For the first time, the rear hatchback door on the Qashqai is now made of a composite material, which saves 2.6kg.
The use of Nissan's Ultra High Strength Steel application (UHSS) has increased by 50% in the structure of the new Qashqai. The UHSS material ensures the highest possible tensile strength in the body structure where it is needed, as part of the crash structure, for example – but without a significant weight penalty. Traditionally, higher tensile strength materials pose problems in welding or joining to other parts of the structure. With the Qashqai's body in white, structural bonding has been used to form a high strength reinforcement and bond where the A-, B- and C-pillars join the roof and floor pan.
The front and rear doors, front fenders and hood, are all now made of aluminium, which offers a weight-saving, when taken all together, of 21kg over the out-going Qashqai's body in white.
The base structure – the "back bone" - of the CMF-C platform has been updated to a more homogenous shape, in order to better transmit an impact through the structure. This will have the effect of the structure absorbing the energy more effectively in the crumple zones, reducing the potential load transmitted to the occupants in the event of an accident.
The net advantage for customers, thanks to the advanced manufacturing techniques, is that the overall body in white is lighter by 60kg and 41% stiffer than the out-going model. This translates to refinement, ride comfort and driving response from a higher segment, plus exceptional security in the event of an accident – as well as having benefits to the car's overall efficiency.
New suspension and steering design
The new Qashqai will continue to offer a rewarding driving experience – building on its reputation as a refined and cossetting drive, but nevertheless, enjoyable when the road turns twisty.
The new CMF-C platform boasts torsional rigidity of vehicles from a higher segment, allowing the suspension to remain precisely located, ensuring positive and confidence-inspiring responses to steering inputs and a more solid feel when driving on rough roads.
Thanks to the CMF-C platform, the new Qashqai has an updated Macpherson strut set-up at the front and at the rear. For two-wheel drive Qashqai specified up to and including 19" wheels, rear suspension is a torsion beam configuration. For 20" wheels and all-wheel drive versions, it will be equipped with an advanced multi-link set-up.
The torsion beam installation offers improved bump absorption and road-noise suppression, resulting in a composed and quiet drive on all road surfaces. Key to its wide-ranging abilities is the change in spring and damper to a vertical alignment. This allows the spring and damper to work in their optimal stroke range, maximising their effectiveness for more controlled response to bumps and shocks in the road and to minimise rebound for a settled, composed ride, while maintaining excellent anti-roll performance through changes of direction.
The advanced multi-link rear suspension configuration offers a best-in-segment balance between ride comfort and dynamic response. It is now mounted to the sub-frame by bushes, which reduce road noise and vibrations transmitted from the road.
The power-steering set-up has been upgraded, offering improved response, better feeling around the central part of the steering range and reduced friction.
David Moss, Region Senior Vice President Research and Development, Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO): "Our engineering team has benchmarked a cross-section of C-segment hatchbacks, as well as direct competitor vehicles, and through thousands of kilometres of testing on roads and test facilities throughout Europe, have achieved a ride and handling balance which places driving pleasure at the heart of the experience."
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