The Nissan first launched its Qashqai crossover 17 years ago and went on to become rather popular, still leading the segment in Europe to this day. So to celebrate the launch of the newest version, Nissan decided to drop it.
From a crane, that is, and in doing so has broken the world record for the highest bungy jump with a car. Yes, that is a thing.
The feat was undertaken as part of a TV campaign for the new Qashqai, which debuts in Europe this month. Nissan says the stunt is intended to invoke the spirit of the model's historic TV commercials and is "The kind of daring and therefore furiously essential challenge that we love at Nissan," according to Jérôme Biguet, Marketing Director of Nissan France.
"The brand has always shown its ability to innovate and shake up habits with audacity and sometimes even impertinence," Biguet said.
"In its various TV spots, the Qashqai has tried skateboarding, surfing, paintball… each time thrilling activities. The new campaign will see it jumping from building to building. The idea of a bungy jump to symbolize the personality of the new Qashqai quickly came to mind."
Carried out in the Paris region by the staff of Nissan France, the Qashqai was placed on a 65-metre-high basket and took the plunge with a professional stuntman on board in front of the jury of the Guinness World Records, who validated the feat as a new world record.
The jump challenge was unveiled in prime time on Sunday, September 8 on French television channel TF1 by Denis Brogniart, a French TV presenter and Nissan brand ambassador. You can watch the video above.
While there is no word yet on the updated Nissan Qashqai's arrival here (although it has been confirmed to arrive in Australia before the end of the year), it is now on sale across Europe, with a bold new exterior look and an extensively revised interior. The Qashqai now also gets Google built-in, allowing drivers to seamlessly connect to Google Maps, Google Voice Assistant and to download apps from the Google Play store.
