The turbo 1.5-liter engine is new, but it doesn’t drive the wheels directly.
The new Nissan Qashqai, which was first unveiled to the public in February of last year had a single turbo-gas unit and no diesel engine. We briefly discussed a new hybrid powertrain and saw a prototype test the tech in November. Now, the Japanese marque is ready to reveal more details about the Qashqai E-Power before its launch on the Old continent in the late summer.
The first European Nissan model to get the new electric engine is the Qashqai E-Power. This hybrid is unlike any other available on the market. It is largely inspired by the powertrain of Note E-Power. It has a 1.5-liter engine instead of the 1.2-liter motor in the hatchback. The engine’s internal combustion acts as a generator, and stores energy in a high-output lithium battery pack. The ICE has 156 horsepower (115 kilowatts), but this power never reaches its wheels.
Instead, the turbo gas unit supplies electric energy to power a 190-hp (170-kW) electric engine. The electric motor has a similar power output and size to the current Nissan electric cars. According to Nissan’s driving situation, the ICE can be used to transmit electricity to either the battery pack or the electric motor via an inverter.
This setup should theoretically allow the combustion engine run at its maximum rpm range with the best compression ratio. This will result in lower CO2 emissions and increased efficiency. The electric motor drives the wheels and gives you a feeling similar to driving an electric car. The three-cylinder 1.5-liter engine delivers instant torque and produces powerful engine sounds.
Nissan actually developed Linear Tune, a system that will make driving the Qashqai E-Power more familiar and connected. This feature monitors the gasoline engine, and gradually increases the rotation speed to meet electric motor’s energy needs. The Linear Tune will help eliminate the feeling of “disconnectedness” that is often associated with hybrid and CVT-equipped vehicles. A sudden increase in engine revs does not always correspond with an increase in speed.