Nissan creates world’s largest 3D pen sculpture:
a stunning full-sized Qashqai crossover
- Nissan draws Qashqai Black Edition premium crossover using only innovative 3Doodler 3D pen technology
- Largest 3D pen artwork ever produced; 13.8 km of plastic strands and 800 man-hours
- Black Edition brings even greater style and sophistication to the Qashqai – Europe’s best-selling crossover
- Skilled design team used 3D pens supplied by 3Doodler
- Watch Nissan create the world’s biggest 3D pen sculpture here:
Nissan has created the world’s largest sculpture using innovative 3Doodler 3D pen technology, drawing a stunning full-sized replica of the new Qashqai Black Edition to celebrate the car’s launch.
The amazing artwork was painstakingly hand-drawn by a talented team of 3D pen artists, using pens supplied by leading brand 3Doodler. They worked with true attention to detail to ensure their creation expressed the premium design and refined sophistication of the new crossover – which is on sale now.
The Nissan Qashqai is Europe’s most popular crossover. While Nissan produces 58 every hour at its plant in Sunderland, UK, this bespoke version took 800 man-hours to complete over a three-week period. The final sculpture is 4.4 metres long and 1.6 metres high – the same as the Nissan Qashqai Black Edition.
The 3D printing industry is predicted to be worth more than $17 billion by 2020*. As a design technology, it has become increasingly common in manufacturing in recent years, including in the automotive sector.
Launching the innovation on the mass market, the 3Doodler Create 3D pen allows anyone to draw in the air to produce unique three-dimensional shapes and patterns. It works by heating solid plastic to 230°C and forcing it through a nozzle just 0.7 mm wide as it cools. Led by artist Grace Du Prez, the team of artists brought the Qashqai Black Edition to life with an astonishing 13.8 kilometres of plastic strands.
Grace Du Prez commented: “I’ve been drawing with 3Doodler’s pens for a few years now, but this is by far and away my most ambitious commission to date. It demonstrates how far 3D printing technology has come and how it can be used by anyone.”
Koji Nagano, Vice President, Nissan Design Europe, commented: “At Nissan we always encourage initiatives where design can be expressed through new and innovative technologies. This artistic team have certainly pushed the boundaries of 3D pen technology in creating an impressive sculpture of our premium Qashqai Black Edition”
The real Nissan Qashqai Black Edition is limited to just 3,360 units across Europe to ensure its exclusivity. Based on flagship Tekna trim level, it has been enhanced further by a number
of contemporary styling features. These include smart 19-inch ‘Ibiscus’ black alloy wheels, signature Black Edition door sills, plus front and rear silver styling plates. The car is also available with Qashqai’s panoramic glass roof, creating an even more stylish and sophisticated exterior and interior ambience.
The multi-award-winning Qashqai’s impressive quality, styling and innovative technologies continue to make it the best-selling crossover in Europe. For more information, please visit: http://www.nissan.eu/experience-nissan.html
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
* Source: www.3dprintingindustry.com, August 2015.
The people pictured are 3Doodler artist Niki Firmin, and Karsan Haval from Kingston University.
About Nissan in Europe
Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 17,600 staff across locally-based design, research & development, manufacturing, logistics and sales & marketing operations. Last calendar year Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced more than 675,000 vehicles including award-winning crossovers, small cars, SUVs, commercial vehicles and electric vehicles, including the Nissan LEAF, the world's most popular electric vehicle with 97% of customers willing to recommend the car to friends. Nissan now offers a strong line-up of 23 diverse and innovative models in Europe under the Nissan and Datsun brands.
About Nissan Motor Co
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 247,500 employees globally, Nissan sold 5.32 million vehicles and generated revenue of 11.38 trillion yen (USD 103.6 billion) in fiscal year 2014. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. Nissan leads the world in zero-emission mobility, dominated by sales of the LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle. It is the best-selling EV in history with almost 50% share of the zero-emission vehicle segment.
About 3Doodler
Launched in 2013, the 3Doodler is the world’s first 3D printing pen. Now in its third generation, 3Doodler has sold more than 750,000 units around the world, rapidly becoming the best-selling 3D printing device on the market. Designed by WobbleWorks, Inc., the 3Doodler range of 3D pens has been created to be compact and easy to use, so anyone can start creating in 3D within minutes. Whether hobbyist or professional, anything is possible with the 3Doodler. In February 2016 the company also released the 3Doodler Start, designed for young creators, and suitable for ages 8+. The full 3Doodler range is available at retailers in over 50 countries worldwide. For more information, visit the3Doodler.com.
