Nissan’s competitive return to fleet’s biggest segment will take shape in a few weeks’ time when the company reveals the production version of its Qashqai concept car.
Designed as a crossover vehicle that will take on the more traditional five-door hatchbacks, the P32L, as the car’s codenamed, will go on sale early next year.
Insiders point to the concept car’s butch 4×4 styling being toned down a little, and one company source described the P32L as a “mini-Murano”, referring to the company’s 4×4.
The car will be available mainly in front-wheel drive form, but four-wheel drive will be available on top-spec models. Although Nissan currently has the Almera competing in the lower-medium segment, sales are 73.4% down in the fleet market over the first half of this year thanks to the company chopping the range back to a single petrol model because the diesel didn’t meet Euro4 regulations.
