Nissan created a ‘new car smell’ just for the Qashqai
You would most likely not lick or nibble at your new car, so taste will not form part of the sensory experience that shapes our feeling about a car. But, you will look at it, the lines, the design, the colours, the detail in the door handle. Sound is important, from the roar or purr of the engine to the sound when the door closes. You will touch it, stroke the leather steering wheel or the crease line in the bonnet, enjoy the way the gear lever fits in your hand.
The other important sense is smell, and a non-smoker getting into a smoker’s car will confirm exactly how important smell is. Back in the day cars smelled of leather and wood, because those were extensively used inside the cars. With time, these smells would fade and the car would no longer smell new.
Later on, when leather and wood were replaced with plastic and metal, that desirable new car smell came from an aerosol can and did not last very long. Now cars may have leather or even wood inside, but also a lot of synthetic compounds. These are designed to look great, or provide strength, or be very light, and so on. What do these things smell like? More importantly, what will they smell like in a year’s time, or if the driver lives in a very hot climate, or a warm, humid place? Constant heating/cooling or exposure to moisture can affect the makeup of any material and can cause a stink. Even more unpredictable is the interaction between two or more different materials under these conditions. Smell is important, and nobody is going to buy a stinking car, no matter how pretty it looks or great it sounds.
Introducing Peter Karl Eastland, odour evaluation lead engineer, based at Nissan Technical Centre Europe. Peter has just finished engineering the new car smell of the new Nissan Qashqai. Peter doesn’t just have a clever snozz, he is highly trained, with a Master’s degree in chemistry with forensic science from Leicester University. He joined the Nissan Graduate Trainee Scheme in 2016 and his current title is now Odour Evaluation Lead Engineer.
On his work on the Qashqai, Eastman explained: “We aim to provide the best sensory experience for the customer. While tastes and preferences evolve over time, smell remains a constant. Therefore, it is part of our job to make sure that any material we use is always going to be perfect in terms of scent and that all of the senses are harmonized”.
Eastman and his team test all materials considered for a car like the Qashqai, subjecting them to different conditions that may affect them in the real world. If they identify any that may cause a stink, they will search for alternatives that will still do the job, but without the pong.
So next time you go and test drive a new Nissan Qashqai or another model. Take note of the new car smell in it. That did not happen by accident.
