The company that helped to kick-start the European crossover craze is bringing two personalized concepts to this year's show in a bid to retain its place in the market as choice continues to grow.
The Qashqai Premium Concept and the X-Trail Premium Concept are a concerted attempt to show that hugely popular models can still be diverse and to test the appetite for new external and internal options and design touches.
"We allowed the creativity of our design teams to shine through," said Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President of Design and Chief Creative Officer at Nissan Motor Company Ltd about the cars that took two years to develop. "Ultimately we settled on two designs -- which are contrasting but share common themes -- as they reveal a new premium character in our crossovers."
And highlighting the premium is going to be key as the demand for and competition within the SUV and crossover sector intensifies. This year's Geneva Motorshow will be overflowing with new crossovers and many of them will be from the likes of Audi and VW -- marques with a strong focus on premium performance or premium materials.
Nissan's solution is a Qashqai aimed at a "Premium Urbanite" -- an individual that wants to drive to Paris or Rome on the weekends. The concept is finished in matte black with contrasting copper details and bare carbon fiber elements.
All of this is meant to contrast sharply with the white Nappa leather interior. The seats get the diamond quilting treatment usually associated with marques like Bentley, and surfaces and dashboard panels are clad in a copper-gold carbon fiber weave.
As a more capable crossover, the X-Trail concept is targeted at the "Premium Adventurist" that wants to head off the beaten track over the weekend. It's finished in a combination of matte white and black, and the copper detailing is focused on highlighting elements like skid plates and side steps -- the features that mark out a car's off-road credentials.
Inside, the leather palette is very similar to that found in a Range Rover: black and tan tones with piping details on the seats and the use of darkened chrome elements on the dashboard.
According to Mamoru Aoki, Executive Design Director of Nissan Motor Company Ltd, both cars are about exploring: "Creative solutions to fulfill the broad range of the needs of the aspirational customers in Europe."
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