Nissan Qashqai spotted inside and out, but it’s reportedly been delayed

Nissan Qashqai spotted inside and out, but it's reportedly been delayed

The Rogue Sport’s new look should be almost identical.

The refresh of nearly all of Nissan’s lineup is underway. It is obvious that the Qashqai and Rogue Sport are vital components to the company’s overhaul plan. A bold front fascia featuring large C-shaped headlights and LED daytime running lamps has been seen on the European version of this compact crossover.

The side profile has seen quite a few modifications, considering that the mirrors no longer sit at the base A-pillars. The mirrors have been moved lower to the doors, which is likely to improve rearview visibility. You can also see the new greenhouse design in the redesign of the beltline. It is now flatter than the one on the previous model.

The changes are less obvious if you look at the rear. The taillights are shaped flatter and extend further on the tailgate, as we can see. While the red reflectors are now lower on the bumper, the license plate is still mounted in the middle of the rear. Although there are many tweaks, we don’t think the rear end will be any different from the Qashqai.

The interior of Nissan’s most successful European model, the 2021Rogue , should share some design DNA with the bigger . The prototype’s cabin shows a familiar digital instrument cluster with tablet-like infotainment. This is similar to the Qashqai. The steering wheel and the central air vents look very similar to the rest of the switchgear.

The left-side tachometer on the digital driver’s screen shows that the prototype was powered by a gasoline engine. This is logical given Nissan’s decision in Europe to gradually phase out diesel engines. Customers aren’t as interested in oil burners after the Dieselgate. The automatic transmission was revealed by the paddle shifters at the rear of the vehicle.

The bad news is that the Qashqai’s next generation has been delayed by at least six more months. Financial Times reports that production of the new crossover will not begin at the Sunderland plant in Britain until after April 2021.

Although it is likely that the delay is due to the negative impact of the coronavirus on the automotive industry’s health, there could be some good news. Automotive News Europe states that Nissan will learn more about the UK’s relationship with the European Union after Brexit. The two sides are currently in negotiations for a new agreement.