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NEWS
SPY PICS: Nissan Dualis
Second-generation Dualis set to go upmarket with slicker styling and sportier dynamicsNissan’s second-generation Dualis (known as the Qashqai in Europe and other markets) has been spied by the Automedia lenses ahead of its expected world debut at November’s Tokyo motor show.
Although the prototype in these images wears a heavy disguise, it’s still possible to make out the basic styling theme, which appears to share more than a few elements with the sleek new X-Trail unveiled at the recent Frankfurt motor show.
It’s believed the all-new Dualis also shares its Common Module Family (CMF) platform with the latest X-Trail, and it will be offered in front-drive and all-wheel-drive formats.
Due on sale next year, the revamped crossover is said to offer a more involving driving experience, reflecting the sportier styling of the second-gen vehicle.
“We’ve become known as ‘the crossover brand’ and we like that,” Nissan Europe’s product planning guru Andy Palmer was quoted as saying by UK publication Autocar.
“To continue in the right direction, cars like the Qashqai [read: Dualis] have to be edgy, left-field, eccentric. We have to depart from the norm. A ‘Marmite’ car like the Juke is exactly what we need. A ‘me too’ car would be a disaster.”
“While Infinitis are becoming more natural and organic in their design language, Nissans will look more and more technical and mechanical.”
Despite its thoroughly overhauled visuals, the new Dualis is said to be largely unchanged from its predecessor in terms of its key dimensions. However, the somewhat plasticky interior of the oldie reportedly makes way for a more premium cabin with greater use of soft-touch materials.
“The current Qashqai was designed to be profitable with less than half of the volume we ended up getting for it,” a Nissan source was quoted as saying by Autocar. “Economies of scale alone will allow us to do much more with the next one, without any increase in price.”
In keeping with the sporty bent Nissan is introducing to its mainstream models – particularly where Nismo variants are concerned – the new Dualis will allegedly be much more of a driver’s car than its predecessor, with flagship Euro-bound cars getting the same 160kW 1.6-litre direct-injection turbo engine as the up-spec Juke.
“The Nismo treatment we’ve just given the Juke is very much an indicator of our thinking as part of the Qashqai line-up,” Palmer said. “It’s about making the car more involving and more fun to drive without making it unaffordable. Tauter, more interactive handling is the key — with strong but not overblown performance.”
The existing Dualis has found a strong following in Australia, notching up 9480 sales until the end of August, making it Nissan’s third-best seller behind the Navara 4x4 (14,558 sales) and Pulsar (10,045 sales).
– with Automedia
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Written byGautam Sharma
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