Nissan is gearing up to open orders for its Qashqai e-Power hybrid in Australia, with the first cars scheduled to arrive early in 2024.
When the hybrid crossover arrives, it’ll be using the online ordering process debuted on the Z Nismo to assign the first batch of cars.
“When we do announce Qashqai e-Power pricing and availability dates later this calendar year, we will take the first initial reservations online and follow a similar process that we did with Z – which we found very positive, successful,” Nissan Australia managing director Adam Paterson told media.
“Feedback from consumers has been fantastic, as they’ve been able to select their dealer and the colour of vehicle they were after as well. So it’s been really, really reviewed from customers that were after a Z Nismo, as well as from dealers who ultimately fulfil delivery of the car from clients.”
Nissan used the online process for the Nismo due to its incredibly limited supply, with just 100 bound for Australia. Mr Paterson assured CarExpert the Qashqai e-Power won’t be offered in the same tiny quantity at launch.
Originally earmarked for a late-2022 or early-2023 arrival in Australia, Mr Paterson has previously said the Qashqai e-Power has received “strong interest” from local customers.
Local pricing hasn’t been announced as yet, but we do know the Qashqai e-Power will be available in up-spec ST-L and Ti trim levels in Australia, likely carrying a price premium of around $3000-$4000.
Currently, the petrol-powered Qashqai ST-L is priced from $42,190 before on-road costs, while the flagship Ti starts at $47,390 plus on-roads.
Power in the series hybrid version of the Nissan Qashqai comes from a front-mounted electric motor developing a healthy 140kW and 330Nm, fed by a 2.3kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The hybrid part? There’s a 116kW 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine on hand as well.
Rather than directly driving the wheels through a conventional transmission or CVT, the petrol engine is mated to a motor-generator and an inverter.
That unit is used to charge the lithium-ion battery pack, which in turn feeds the drive motors. It’s not quite a range extender, given the car has an electric-only range so short it’s not even quoted by Nissan, but the engine also doesn’t directly drive the wheels.
The closest it comes is when you mat the throttle and it feeds the electric motors (via the attached generator and inverter) directly, rather than just suppling energy to feed the battery.
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