It would seem that Nissan’s plans to begin production on the all-new 2021 Qashqai this October have been delayed all the way until the middle of next year.

This information comes courtesy of two sources who told the Financial Times about the delay, adding that Nissan hadn’t actually confirmed a particular date for the start of production. Still, prototypes of the 2021 Nissan Qashqai / Rogue Sport have been spotted in public throughout the summer.

“Preparations continue for the launch of the new Qashqai in Sunderland, which represents a £400 million investment in the plant,” said Nissan in a statement sent to Autocar.

Read Also: Nissan Is Cutting Nearly 250 Jobs From UK’s Sunderland Factory

“We have not yet announced a date for the next-generation model, but look forward to sharing some exciting news in the coming months,” added the Japanese carmaker.

According to the FT, this delay is largely due to the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, which has hindered development and changed the company’s priorities. The delay could also give Nissan more time to figure out what to do in case Britain doesn’t secure a post-Brexit deal with the European Union.

Two thirds of the 500,000 cars produced by Nissan in Sunderland annually are Qashqai crossovers.

As for what we may expect from a visual standpoint, the next-gen Qashqai / Rogue Sport will feature similar proportions to its predecessor and will adopt Nissan’s latest design language, meaning a more angular aesthetic, as seen on the latest Juke.

We can also expect a modern dashboard design, with a larger infotainment display and upgraded safety tech.

Photo Credits: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien & CarPix for CarScoops