Nissan’s Sunderland plant produces 11 millionth car

Gareth Herincx

4 days ago
Auto News

Nissan Sunderland Plant celebrates 11 millionth car

The team at Nissan Sunderland Plant are celebrating building their 11 millionth vehicle since production started in 1986.

The milestone means that, on average, a new car has rolled off the line every two minutes, every hour of every day, for 37 years.

The 11 millionth car was a Blade Silver Qashqai e-Power, one of three electrified models currently built at the plant. The first car, built in 1986, was a white Nissan Bluebird, which took about 22 hours to build. Today, a top of the range Qashqai e-Power takes about 8.5 hours.

“This milestone reflects the vast experience that our world-class manufacturing team has in delivering the quality cars that our customers love,” said Adam Pennick, Vice President, Manufacturing, at Nissan Sunderland.

“We’ve come a long way since production first started with some iconic models on the way. But we’re always looking forward, and our fully electrified range and EV36Zero plan mean we have an exciting and sustainable future ahead.”

The 11 million is made up of nine different models, with 22 variants. Four models, Qashqai, Micra, Primera and Juke have gone past seven figures, with Qashqai the all-time highest at more than four million.

Last year Qashqai was the UK’s best-selling new car – the first British built model to win the award in 24 years.

The UK’s largest car manufacturer by volume, Sunderland Plant is home to a workforce of about 6,000 people. Nissan also supports a further 30,000 UK jobs in the supply chain, with about five million parts arriving every day at the plant.

Notes:

Model First produced Last produced Total made
Bluebird 1986 1990 187,178
Qashqai 2006 Ongoing 4,059,516
Micra 1992 2010 2,368,705
Primera 1990 2007 1,483,059
Juke 2010 Ongoing 1,295,011
Almera 2000 2006 642,420
Note 2006 2016 676,438
Infiniti 2015 2019 76,166
LEAF 2010 Ongoing 263,405

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British-built Nissan Qashqai was UK’s bestselling car in 2022

Gareth Herincx

13 hours ago
Auto News

Gold-wrapped Nissan Qashqai

The Nissan Qashqai was the UK’s most popular new car of 2022, and the first British-built model to top the annual sales charts for 24 years.

Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) confirm that the home-grown Qashqai – which was designed in Paddington, engineered in Cranfield and is built in Sunderland – was the nation’s best-selling car of the last 12 months.

A total of 42,704 new Qashqais were driven off dealership forecourts across the UK in 2022, reported the SMMT.

To celebrate the achievement, an exclusive gold-wrapped Qashqai was created in honour of the 7,000 Nissan employees from around the UK that have contributed to its success.

  1. Nissan Qashqai – 42,704
  2. Vauxhall Corsa – 35,910
  3. Tesla Model Y – 35,551
  4. Ford Puma – 35,088
  5. Mini – 32, 387
  6. Kia Sportage – 29,655
  7. Hyundai Tucson – 27,839
  8. Volkswagen Golf – 26,588
  9. Ford Kuga – 26,549
  10. Ford Fiesta – 25,070

Overall, 1.61 million new cars were registered in the UK in 2022 – the lowest level since 1992.

Although demand for new vehicles remained high, manufacturers struggled to get hold of parts. There were particularly serious problems obtaining semiconductors, which are used in a vast array of electronic systems, from infotainment systems to engine management.

Meanwhile, demand for electric vehicles continued to grow and they accounted for almost a fifth of new car sales.

Registrations rose from 190,700 to 267,000 – with the EV market share climbing from 11.6% to 16.6%.

The Tesla Model Y was the biggest-selling electric vehicle by far, nothing up 35,551 registrations, followed by the Tesla Model 3 (19,071) and Kia Niro (11,197).

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Nissan X-Trail review

Nissan X-Trail review

We get to grips with the impressive all-new Nissan X-Trail SUV – now an electrified seven-seater…

The Nissan X-Trail is a global success story. Originally launched in 2001, more than seven million have been sold globally, making it one of the world’s most popular SUVs. In the UK alone, some 138,599 have found homes.

Now it’s the turn of the fourth-generation X-Trail, marketed as “the only electrified seven-seater SUV”.

However, there’s more to the new X-Trail than the optional extra seats. It’s everything you’d expect from a vehicle with such well-established DNA, but it also delivers state-of-the-art hybrid technology, versatile packaging, comfort and genuine off-road capability.

Nissan X-Trail

Priced from £32,030 to £47,155 and available as either a mild-hybrid or with Nissan’s unique ‘e-Power’ hybrid powertrain, the X-Trail is more than a match for its rivals which include the Skoda Kodiaq, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorrento and latest Toyota RAV4 (though it only has five seats).

The X-Trail takes design cues from its smaller sibling, the Qashqai, including the brand’s signature ‘V-Motion’ trapezoidal grille.

Wider and taller than the outgoing model, it’s well-proportioned with a chunky, more muscular design. The extra cladding around the wheel arches and bumpers, slim headlights and big wheels (20 inches on our test car) give it real road presence.

Nissan X-Trail review

The interior of the new X-Trail is a big step-up too. Modern, spacious and bathed in light, it has a near-premium feel with classy materials and great build quality.

There’s a commanding view of the road from the comfy seats, and if you do have any qualms about manoeuvring into tight spaces, there’s ample tech on board to help you, whether it’s sensors or a 360-degree camera with Moving Object Detection.

Your choice of grade (from entry-level Visia to top-of-the-range Tekna ) will determine which goodies you get with your car, but we’d say the mid-range N-Connecta which gets the twin 12.3-inch displays up front, roof rails and privacy glass is a good choice.

Nissan X-Trail review

However, if you splash out on the next grade up (Tekna) you get a panoramic sunroof, electric tailgate, head-up display, wireless phone charger and ProPilot Assist with Navi-Link – an impressive suite of safety and driver assistance tech.

The top-of-the-range Tekna comes with 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, a premium Bose sound system with 10 speakers and quilted leather seats.

Equipment and tech is one thing, but the big decision you have to make with the new Nissan X-Trail is which electrified powertrain to choose.

The entry-level option is a 161bhp 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol with mild hybrid assistance, which is only available with front-wheel drive.

Next up is the X-Trail e-POWER, which is Nissan’s take on a full hybrid (no need to plug it in). The drivetrain combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine of 201bhp with a 150kW electric motor on the front axle.

Nissan X-Trail review

Unusually, the petrol engine doesn’t drive the wheels at all – it simply acts as a generator to charge the 2.1kWh battery and power the electric motor, which is responsible for driving the wheels at all times.

The top-spec all-wheel drive (e-4ORCE) powertrain option uses the same e-POWER configuration, but adds a 100kW electric motor to the rear axle, increasing the X-Trail’s power output to 211bhp.

The stats for the three powertrains are predictable. Fuel economy on the mild hybrid is up to 39.9mpg, CO2 emissions start at 161g/km, while the 0-62mph sprint takes 9.6 seconds.

Nissan X-Trail review

The two-wheel drive e-POWER takes eight seconds to reach 62mph and can manage as much as 48.6mpg, while CO2 is as low as 132g/km.

Finally, the e-POWER with e-4ORCE is the fastest accelerating (7 secs), has CO2 emissions starting at 143g/km and fuel economy tops out at 44.7mpg.

Unless you need all-wheel drive, on paper the mid-range X-trail with e-POWER looks like it offers the best blend of performance and economy.

Perhaps what’s most surprising is that Nissan’s hybrid system produces economy figures which are not dissimilar to a conventional hybrid where a battery provides electrical assistance to a petrol motor which drives the wheels.

We tested the flagship e-POWER with e-4ORCE on a mixed driving route, which included some gentle off-roading and controlled automotive gymnastics – and it’s an impressive piece of kit.

Gareth Herincx Nissan X-Trail Slovenia

As you glide off, it’s immediately clear that the new Nissan X-Trail is no ordinary 4×4. The ride is smooth (even with the 20-inch wheels), the cabin is a comfortable and refined place to be, and it feels substantial.

Despite its large dimensions, it’s easy to drive with light and responsive steering. Hustle it a little and it remains remarkably composed.

Body lean is surprisingly well controlled in more challenging corners and there’s superb grip and traction – even on the rough stuff. In fact, it’s very capable off-road, demonstrating a surprising amount of agility in a serious of tests.

Gareth Herincx Nissan X-Trail Slovenia

It takes a while to get used to the sensation of the engine revving away in the background as it charges up the battery. The only time it makes its presence known is when you’re heavy with your right foot, especially on uphill stretches.

Though it’s reasonably vocal, frankly it’s nowhere near as intrusive as full hybrids using CVT transmission from other manufacturers.

Nissan says the X-Trail has a 10,000 times faster rear torque response than a mechanical 4WD system, adding that the constant torque redistribution also contributes to handling and ride comfort, enabling a powerful yet smooth, driving experience.

I’ll go along with that, because the X-Trail is an excellent all-rounder – just as content cruising on a motorway as it is soaking up the worst poor surfaces have to offer.

Nissan X-Trail

What’s more, the X-Trail has always been a favourite with caravanners, so the braked towing capacity of up to 2,000kg will be welcome.

Finally, let’s deal with one of the X-Trail’s USPs – that optional third row of seats. I’m a fraction under six-foot and I could squeeze into seats six and seven, but in order to travel any distance the second row would have to slide forward, which may in turn require some compliance from the driver and front passenger too.

So, I’d say the third row of seats is there for occasional use, preferably children and small adults.

With the third row of seats in use, the X-Trail’s boot has a capacity of 485 litres. In five-seat formation (where there’s ample space for three passengers) this increases to 585 litres, and with both sets of rear seats down there’s a cavernous 1,424 litres of space.

A quick mention too for the rear doors which open at an impressive 85-degree angle (just like a Qashqai) for easy access – useful for lifting small children into car seats, for instance.

Verdict: Smooth, refined, robust and easy to drive, the hybrid Nissan X-Trail is a class act. Offering a unique proposition in the SUV sector, it’s also surprisingly capable off-road and delivers big bang for your bucks.

Nissan UK

Nissan Ariya EV crowned ‘Car of the Year 2022’

Gareth Herincx

6 hours ago
Auto News

Nissan Ariya

Nissan has scooped the prestigious Auto Express Car of the Year 2022 with its all-new pure electric Ariya.

British engineers at Nissan’s European technical team in Cranfield have played a big role in the development of the new Ariya, resulting in what judges describe as “a comfortable ride and superb refinement with impressive agility for a big car”.

The Ariya is Nissan’s second mass-market EV following its pioneering Leaf, arguably the EV that first made electric driving affordable.

The annual Auto Express Awards are “the most customer-focused car awards in the UK”, recommending models across categories that are set, like the judging criteria, following research into the wants and needs of real UK buyers.

As well as specific EV category wins, there was success for electric cars in traditional car categories, too. The new all-electric Fiat 500 scooped the best City Car trophy and the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric was named Best Company Car.

“The new Nissan Ariya is quite simply a fantastic new car – it just so happens to be an EV, too,” said Steve Fowler, Editor-in-Chief of Auto Express.

“It’s so cleverly thought through, buyers will find it really easy and enjoyable to live with, while it drives superbly, looks great and is the most premium-feeling Nissan we’ve ever seen.”

Auto Express Car of the Year 2022 winners

  • City Car of the Year – Fiat 500
  • Supermini of the Year – Renault Clio
  • Family Car of the Year – Dacia Jogger
  • Estate Car of the Year – Skoda Octavia Estate
  • Small Company Car of the Year – Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric
  • Mid-size Company Car of the Year – Nissan Ariya
  • Large Company Car of the Year – BMW 5 Series
  • Small SUV of the Year – Kia Niro
  • Mid-size SUV of the Year – Hyundai Tucson
  • Large SUV of the Year – Skoda Kodiaq
  • Small Premium SUV of the Year – Mercedes-Benz GLA
  • Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year – Lexus NX
  • Large Premium SUV of the Year – Land Rover Defender
  • Luxury Car of the Year – Range Rover
  • Hot Hatch of the Year – Hyundai i20 N
  • Coupé of the Year – BMW 2 Series
  • Convertible of the Year – MINI Convertible
  • Performance Car of the Year – Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS
  • Affordable Electric Car of the Year – MG ZS EV
  • Premium Electric Car of the Year – BMW i4
  • Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year – Toyota Yaris
  • Premium Hybrid Car of the Year – Mercedes-Benz C 300 e
  • Pick-up of the Year – Ford Ranger
  • Electric Van of the Year – Ford E-Transit
  • Van of the Year – Fiat Ducato
  • Technology Award – Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX
  • Auto Express New Car of the Year – Nissan Ariya

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Wimbledon stars and their cars

Novak Djokovic – an ambassador for PEUGEOT

With Wimbledon fast approaching, all eyes are on the world’s elite players as they battle for one of the sport’s most lucrative prizes.

Overall, there’s £40.35 million worth of prize money to play for, spread out over four rounds, the semi-finals and the finals.

The 2022 Wimbledon winners will win £2m each and the runners-up get a cool £1.05m, with much more to be earned via sponsorships.

As a result, the most famous tennis players boast some of the world’s best car collections.

Prestige car experts Anglo Scottish Asset Finance know a thing or two about luxury cars, and they’ve taken a look at some of the car collections of some of tennis’s most famous players to find out who’s got the biggest and best car collection.

Novak Djokovic
Estimated value of car collection: £830,000
Six-time Wimbledon winner and holder of 20 Grand Slam Men’s singles, Serbian legend Novak Djokovic is a well-known petrolhead. A brand ambassador for Peugeot, Djokovic is the owner of numerous electric cars, one of which is a limited edition E-208 bestowed on him by Peugeot. He is also the proud owner of a Tesla Model X.

As well as his electric cars, Djokovic’s collection includes a series of sportier motors, including an Audi R8, Aston Martin DB9 (worth over £200,000), and Bentley GT Continental. For everyday use, where a more understated car is required, he also has a Fiat 500.

With Djokovic’s Aston Martin retailing for over £200,000, and his Bentley, Audi R8 and Mercedes S500 all retailing for over £100,000, his collection will be the envy of petrolheads around the world.

Rafael Nadal
Estimated value of car collection: £836,000
With 21 Grand Slam titles and two Wimbledon wins, Nadal holds the most Men’s singles titles in history. Having faced Djokovic 58 times, their rivalry is considered one of the greatest ever – and their car collections rival each other too.

Sponsored by Kia, Nadal was gifted their most exciting sports car – the Kia Stinger GT, boasting 365hp and twin-turbo V6 engine. Nadal clearly feels the need for speed, as the owner of an Aston Martin DBS and Ferrari 458 Italia, the fastest car in his collection, with a top speed of 203mph. He even owns a Mercedes AMG GTS, adorned with an eye-catching tennis ball paint job.

When it comes to cars, Nadal might just edge Djokovic out. With the Aston Martin and Ferrari alone worth almost £500,000, the estimated value of his collection just pips that of his competitor.

Serena Williams
Estimated value of car collection: £637,000
Winner of 23 Grand Slams, Serena Williams is one of the most decorated women’s players of all time, and has the car collection to match! Williams owns an Aston Martin Vanquish, having been previously sponsored by the British car manufacturer, and is also the owner of a Bentley Continental GT.

Williams is the owner of a Mercedes G-wagon, and her garage is also home to some slightly more accessible ‘everyday’ cars, like a 2016 Mini Cooper, and a Lincoln Navigator. Upon becoming the face of Lincoln in 2018, Williams immediately got behind the wheel of a Navigator, which she had owned as her first car years prior – her beloved SUV was back.

Williams’ Aston Martin Vanquish, worth over £300,000, is the figurehead of her collection, which is estimated to be worth well over £600,000.

jaguaripace.

Andy Murray
Estimated value of car collection: £444,000
Having passed his driving test just five months before, Scottish hero Andy Murray ditched his understated VW Polo for a bright red Ferrari 430 – quite the improvement! However, after admitting that he felt like ‘a bit of a prat,’ Murray switched the Ferrari for a classier Aston Martin DB9, made famous by James Bond.

In 2015, Murray won the Munich Open, his first title on clay. A BMW i8 was included as part of his prize, and he also became the owner of a Jaguar I-Pace as a result of a sponsorship deal with Jaguar. Despite his ever-growing car collection, Murray still owns his original VW Polo, stating: ‘I enjoy driving it. It was my first car and I’m attached to it.’

Murray’s understated British charm extends to his car collection – whilst not as lavish as Nadal or Djokovic, his garage oozes class.

Roger Federer
Estimated value of car collection: £638,000
Suave Swiss player Roger Federer has developed a stunning car collection over the years, having held a lucrative contract with Mercedes-Benz since 2008. Federer owns at least six different models.

Federer is famously the owner of a sunburst-yellow Mercedes AMG GTS, as well as an AMG G63, more commonly known as a G-wagon. Boasting a Mercedes for every occasion, Federer has a convertible SL AMG for a sunny afternoon and a 4×4 Mercedes AMG GLE 63 S – there’s plenty of horsepower in his garage. He also owns a Range Rover – a staple of the pro sportsman’s car garage.

Though we’re sure Federer will have paid nothing for his car collection, it’s still the envy of car owners around the world, worth well over £600,000.

Naomi Osaka
Estimated value of car collection: > £250,000
A four-time Grand Slam singles champion, Naomi Osaka secured a sponsorship with Nissan in 2018 after beating Serena Williams in the U.S. Open. As part of their partnership, Nissan released a series of limited edition GT-Rs.

Osaka helped pick the colour combinations for the new GT-Rs, which she described as her ‘dream car.’ Available in Midnight Opal, Brilliant White Pearl and Meteor Flake Black Pearl, the production run of the new GT-Rs was limited to 50, making Osaka the owner of one of the rarest cars on this list. 

Whilst we don’t know much about Osaka’s other motors, you can expect her uber-rare limited edition GT-R to fetch at least £250,000!

From powerful sports cars to G-wagons and luxury 4x4s, tennis’s biggest stars rightly own some of the best cars on the planet – which will maintain their value on account of being owned by a famous tennis player!

Despite having the option of owning any car on the planet, it’s nice to know that there’s still room in Andy Murray’s garage for his old VW Polo.

“Many of the world’s top sportspeople pride themselves on their car collection, and tennis is no different,” said Allan Hetherington, Head of Prestige Car Finance at Anglo Scottish.

“However, with personalised prestige car finance options available, you need not feel priced out of affording your dream car.”