The new Nissan Qashqai now on sale in Ghana

The new Nissan Qashqai model arrives in Ghana with a four-model range supported by a 2.0 litre petrol engine and two trim lines. Efficient, modern, trendy and energetic in its execution, the Nissan Qashqai is not just a reworked original with a renewed lease on life.

Head of Marketing and Public Relations at Japan Motors Trading Company Limited, Hilda Peasah said: "The Nissan Qashqai also offers enhanced efficiency through an extensive mass reduction programme, resulting in 40kg weight loss on some models despite the extensive addition of new equipment".

Produced at the Nissan Sunderland plant in England, the new Qashqai arrives in Ghana with a four-model range supported by a 2.0-litre petrol engine and two trim lines. The new Nissan Qashqai is available with the 2.0-litre direct injection petrol engine which was seen in the first generation model as well.

The power and torque was improved to 103kW (144hp) at 6000 rpm and 196Nm (20.4kg-m) at 4400 rpm with a 2.5% improvement in fuel economy. The 2.0-litre engine is paired with a six-speed manual transmission, 2WD as well as a XTRONIC CVT option in 2WD and AWD with ALL MODE 4×4-I, she stated.

Furthermore, XTRONIC CVT has been specifically enhanced for the new Nissan Qashqai by defying conventional CVT principles to create a more natural driving sensation with stepped changes to mimic conventional multi-ratio automatic gearboxes during hard acceleration. Under smoother acceleration the ratios are subtly adjusted for ultimate smoothness.

Mrs. Peasah explained: “Premium technology, second generation crossover design and enhanced dynamics all combine to form the backbone of the new Nissan Qashqai. The striking Nissan Qashqai is longer than the current model and fractionally lower and wider, giving it a sleek, poised stance while maintaining the crossover style, compact dimensions and raised driving position. Distinctive features – including a clamshell-style bonnet – lend a premium appearance while retaining the Nissan Qashqai’s strong visual DNA”. Inside, a dramatic rise in material and design quality adds significant interior appeal to the Nissan Qashqai package. Versatility also remains a core crossover attribute; Nissan’s engineers have devised innovative ways to make the Nissan Qashqai fit into drivers’ lives. Delivering greater occupancy space and a larger luggage capacity, Nissan Qashqai ticks all the right boxes, she stated.

The first generation Nissan Qashqai’s effortless design and innovative approach was key to making it a global success. The all-new version sets a new benchmark for crossover design, featuring a striking new look with powerful curves, clean lines and intricate details, taking Nissan’s iconic crossover to the next level.

Keeping everything fresh, the bold new design is fronted by the prominent Nissan V-motion grille, supported by angular headlights and an aggressive front bumper with a deep air dam for a purposeful look.

All models are also characterised by new boomerang LED welcome and follow me home lights which create a light signature that is unquestionably Nissan Qashqai. At the rear, a pert tail gate is flanked by strong wraparound tail light clusters with LED elements and a sophisticated bumper design which rounds off the SUV appeal.

In 2007, Nissan launched the Nissan Qashqai model that became the crossover pioneer, found more than 2.0 million customers worldwide and was soon followed by scores of imitators.

In Ghana, Nissan is the number one auto brand with 30.6 percent market share. In future, the plant in Nigeria could supply vehicles to Ghana, the second-biggest market in West Africa for Nissan, Whitfield said.

Nissan partners Orange Africa Cup of Nations to boost brand footprint in Africa

Nissan is throwing its weight behind the Orange Africa Cup of Nations 2015 because it wants to boost the excitement that surrounds the continent’s most adored sporting event while deepening the brand’s footprint in the region through growth in car sales, said Mike Whitfield, Managing Director of Nissan South Africa who also heads the company’s Africa-South regional business unit.

Mr. Whitfield speaking from Pretoria, South Africa, indicated that Nissan wants to become a bigger player in Africa’s car market, which is set to benefit from rapid economic growth and a surging urban, middle-class population. “Africa is very much a key part of our growth strategy and we want to use football as a key platform to bring the brand closer to the whole of Africa,” he said.

Nissan’s partnership with the Africa Cup of Nations follows its recent high-profile sponsorship deal with the UEFA Champions League, announced in April and expected to run for four years. The Japanese car maker is also a sponsor of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the global automotive partner of City Football Group, owners of English Premier League champions Manchester City.

The Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers are currently being played and will end in November, with the tournament scheduled to take place in Morocco from January-February 2015. Nissan will throughout this period host public events as well as gatherings with dealerships to introduce its vehicle innovations to the continent. As part of the activities, the new Nissan Qashqai and X-Trail will be brought to more customers, after successful launches in North Africa and South Africa.

With Africa having the lowest vehicle ownership rate of any region in the world, Nissan sees huge potential to sell more vehicles in its key markets on the continent, said Mr. Whitfield, who added that the company plans to strengthen its market share in sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa, from the double-digit threshold to 14-16 percent within four years.

“We see Africa as the last frontier of the automobile market. There are currently 1.2-1.4 million new vehicle sales per year in a population of one billion people. That represents huge potential.”

Nissan’s dynamic, fresh focus on Africa has seen it begin to overhaul its sales network in many African countries, taking over primary distributorships and setting up a plant in Nigeria that is expected to become its third hub in the region, alongside Egypt and South Africa.

Nissan has already seen results from its increased focus on Africa. In 2013, the company hit 26,695 sales units in Egypt, a 24.3 percent increase year-on-year. Market share was 12.3 percent, up by 2.5 percentage points thanks to strong sales of the Nissan Sunny. The company also made a new sales record in Angola.