It may look strange – but Nissan know what they’re doing

Mar 4 2009 By Dan Warburton

NISSAN has unveiled a concept car which it is hoped could safeguard more than 1,000 jobs in the region. The Qazana, revealed at the Geneva Motor Show yesterday, is the concept car on which the Japanese giant will base its new model – due to enter production in Washington next year.

Although the final model is likely to be different – and may not even be called the same thing – the concept is intended to be indicative of what the production model will look like.

The new model will replace the Micra and Nissan bosses hope it will emulate the success of the Qashqai, which is also manufactured in Washington. A cross between a 4x4 and a small hatchback, it is aimed at city centre drivers, with designers claiming there is nothing like it on the market today. It is the 12th Nissan model to be built at Washington.

Matt Weaver, project lead designer at Nissan Design Europe, said the Qazana was designed to be sophisticated but fun.

He said: “It’s a hugely optimistic car, which is no bad thing in these difficult times. Had it been created in the 1960s, it would have counted camper-vans, bikes and buggies as its rivals.

“Infused with that same spirit, there’s nothing quite like it available today.”

Alfonso Albaisa, vice president of Nissan Design Europe, said: “When it comes to design, Nissan has developed a reputation for constantly delivering something different.

“The global success of Qashqai has proven that the car-buying public is fed up with the conventional but we are not prepared to sit on our laurels. Qazana might seem a radical solution but important elements of the concept do point to a future Nissan production vehicle.”

It is thought up to 1,100 new jobs will be created in the region as the car giant responds to growing demand for its Qashqai model.

A third production shift is to be added at the Japanese firm’s plant in Washington, bringing 400 permanent and 400 temporary new jobs to the site. And the expansion is expected to create a further 400 jobs through the company’s North East based supply chain.

Plant boss Trevor Mann said the new model was a vote of confidence in Sunderland after Nissan was forced to axe jobs in January.

He said: “The difficulties currently facing the car industry have been widely documented, and Nissan has not been immune.

“As a result, we have had to make some difficult decisions, but the reason we have done so is to secure a long and positive future for the plant.

“Qazana points the way to that future and gives an indication of the unique and exciting car we will be producing in Sunderland next year.”

The Sunderland factory opened in 1986, initially building just one model in kit form – the Bluebird family saloon.