Agent47 Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 Nissan has detailed the electrified petrol powertrain offerings for the new Qashqai ahead of its unveiling later this year. The family SUV, which joins a growing number of rivals that have ditched diesel entirely, will be offered with either a mild-hybrid four-cylinder turbocharged engine or the new ePower hybrid system, which makes its European debut. The first, more conventional offering is an updated version of the 1.3-litre turbo engine found in many current Nissan, Renault and Mercedes models. All versions feature a 12V mild-hybrid system, selected for being more affordable than a 48V set-up, mated to a small lithium ion battery to offer torque assist and improved stop-start functionality. Adding 22kg to the powertrain kerb weight, the mild-hybrid system also offers fuel economy improvements and a claimed 4g/km reduction in CO2, although homologation figures have yet to be provided. The engine is offered in 138bhp or 156bhp forms, the latter of which can be specified with all-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive system itself is said to be “more intuitive and intelligent”, features five driving modes, and can shift power to the rear wheels five times quicker than the old system. Either a six-speed manual transmission or (on the more powerful unit) a CVT automatic is offered. Nissan has gone from CVT to dual-clutch and back to CVT in the past few years, but claims the new transmission is more efficient and responsive yet avoids the traditional ‘elastic band effect’ - where the engine revs out of kilter with road speed - thanks to simulated stepped gear ratios. The more advanced offering is a new ePower hybrid system, which isn’t a plug-in but differs from parallel hybrids because the engine isn’t directly connected to the wheels. Instead, it charges a battery, which in turn powers an electric motor to drive the wheels. The system has proved hugely po[CENSORED]r in Japan, thrusting the relatively old Note supermini into the biggest seller in its segment. Nissan claims it has been “significantly upgraded” for European customers, however, with a 47%-larger electric motor and a more powerful combustion engine. That engine is a new 1.5-litre unit that features a variable compression ratio - a first for the brand in Europe - to boost efficiency. The electric motor puts out 187bhp (the engine providing 156bhp to charge the battery) and 243lb ft of torque. That’s enough, product planning boss Marco Fioravanti claims, for “really quite impressive” performance and typical EV driving characteristics at lower speeds. Like parallel hybrid set-ups, the system offers a relatively negligible EV-only driving range (below two miles) before the engine-generator kicks in. However, it’s claimed to drive like a classic electric car, with Nissan even fitting the ‘e-Pedal’ system from the Leaf for one-pedal driving using regenerative braking. 2021 Nissan Qashqai: Interior, dimensions and technology The third-generation Qashqai will offer a “class-leading on-board experience”, Nissan claims. The new model, which battles with the Volkswagen Tiguan for the title of segment best-seller in Europe, has grown in physical size but is said to maintain the compact exterior loved by loyal customers. “Exterior dimensions versus exterior size is absolutely critical in Europe, and we have one of the best packages on the market right now," product director Nicholas Tschann told Autocar. It’s 35mm longer, 32mm wider and 25mm taller than the outgoing car, with 20mm added to the wheelbase - described by bosses as the “minimum” size the Qashqai needed to grow to keep distance between it and the Juke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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