Has Nissan got the most diverse line up?

Nissan Qashqai reaches two million mark

NISSAN have announced that the two millionth Qashqai has rolled off the production line in Sunderland this week.

The Qashqai has been the goose that laid the golden egg for Nissan. Launched seven years ago back in 2007 and now into its second generation.

The Japanese manufacturer so far, has made over 2.5 million Qashqais. At the current rate, one fully completed Qashqai rolls off the production line every minute.

This makes Nissan's crossover the fastest selling British built car of all time. Surpassing the new MINI, of which they’ve made the 2.5 million cars rolling off the production line in the space of 10 years from the Cowley plant in Oxford.

It’s an understatement in saying that the Qashqai has been a huge triumph for Nissan. It also kick started the new niche of SUV-cum-hatchback crossover cars. The popularity of them, which many manufacturers soon cottoned onto it, and have made their own imitations of the Qashqai.

With high demand for the Qashqai, which in turn has created more jobs at the Sunderland plant. Helping people keep their jobs as well as create more in the North East. Furthermore, helping the country’s economy. It's also a triumph for Britain’s car industry, and Nissan Manufacturing United Kingdom (NMUK) is an assett to the nation.

Nissan GT-R going green

NISSAN announced the next generation GT-R will be a hybrid. Besides using electricity to reduce emissions, but also to boost performance.

Andy Palmer, Nissan's sales, engineering and marketing boss, believes that environmentally friendly cars needn't be boring.

Palmer said: “There is an inevitability about electrification of all cars in the future, and there is the very real prospect of enhancements coming from it on a sports car like the Nissan GT-R.

“The electric systems can fill in the gaps in the torque curve and offer genuine performance gains, as well as lowering emissions. It’s a win-win, and I’d expect to see some form of hybridisation on the next generation of car.”

The current GT-R has been around for while now as it arrived in late 2007. Still, it's a seriously fast car and has already set a high benchmark. A four-wheel-drive performance car; powered by a twin-turbo 3.8 litre V6, that pumps out 545bhp with 463lb ft of torque. That gets the GT-R to 60mph in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it 2.9 seconds. That's quick by anyone's standards.

Nissan are no stranger to making electrically powered cars as seen with the boring Leaf. But the next generation GT-R is aiming to be a car that's fast, fun, exciting and kinder to the planet. The current GT-R is due to be replaced in 2015.

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