Nissan Qazana Concept

As concept cars go, it doesn't get much better than this! The Qazana does what all good show cars should - it's stunning to look at and pushes the boundaries of conventional market niches - but it's also a production reality! Offering the price and practicality of a small family hatchback, but with the rugged good looks of a full-blown SUV, the UK-built showroom-ready version which goes on sale next year, looks sure to follow in the Qashqai's footsteps and prove to be a massive sales-hit for the firm.

It’s the most captivating concept of 2009! Auto Express has been invited into the belly of Nissan’s Sunderland plant for an exclusive photo shoot with the Qazana concept – Nissan’s Geneva show star that’s already confirmed for production in 2010. On hand was the Qazana’s chief exterior designer Matt Weaver, also responsible for the quirky Qashqai, to give us the low down on his latest crossover.

Photos of the Qazana can be deceptive - seeing it in the flesh reveals just how small the MINI Crossman actually is. “We call it a great big small car,” Weaver explained. “Its raised ride height, bulging wheel arches and small glass area create an optical illusion that makes it seem much larger than it is.” In fact it’s roughly the size of a small hatch, with limited leg room in the back.

The Qazana’s space-age styling might seem a little far-fetched for the production line, but Weaver insists we’ll be shocked by how close the finished article will stick to the concept: “The boomerang rear lights are borrowed from the 370Z coupe and will definitely stay put – as will the unusual split headlights with the indicator, sidelights and LED running lights all mounted high on the wings, and the main beams below the grille.”

A number of exterior features are clearly too elaborate for the showroom version, but demonstrate an astonishing attention to detail. The beautifully-crafted wing mirrors allow air in through a forward-facing opening, before sending it around a series of fan-like blades and releasing it through a gap surrounding the glass – cleaning up the airflow and improves the aerodynamics. Similarly, the stunning 20-inch alloys, wrapped in bespoke Kuhmo tyres will have to be dropped to keep costs down. But on this money-no-object concept the outer edge of the rubber is angled to feed air more efficiently around the hubs.

And then the Qazana really starts to show off. Wave your hand over the virtual handle and the front door glides open electrically. Press a button on the inside sill and the rear suicide door does the same, exposing a huge pillarless opening to the boldly-coloured interior. “Unfortunately the doors won’t make it to production because of cost and weight issues – but they work brilliantly on a motorshow stand to help display the interior,” Weaver added.

“Despite concept car touches like the oversize central touch screen and the one-piece moulding for the floor, designed to minimise the number of parts, the interior is a strong indication of what to expect,” he revealed. In reality, the individual rear seats will become a more conventional bench, but the motorbike-inspired centre console and door mouldings will be carried over to the finished article.

The Qazana concept is more than just a motor show special though. A lightly modified production version, designed to sit below the Qashqai in the range, will go on sale in the middle of next year. And not only has this car been designed at the firm’s design HQ in London, but it will be built in Sunderland too, safeguarding around 11,000 jobs in the UK.

“Nissan’s plan is to introduce niche models into larger markets. It worked with the Qashqai so there’s no reason it won’t work again,” Weaver concluded. It goes without saying that this is a phenomenally important model for the Japanese manufacturer.