It will be available in Europe by the end of this summer.
The Nissan Juke is no longer available in North America where it was replaced by the more affordable and conventionally-looking Kicks in 2019. The quirky crossover is selling well in Europe and the automaker has now added a new hybrid engine to its range. The Qashqai Hybrid will also be available for purchase this summer.
In the electrified Qashqai, a 1.5-liter gasoline engine generates electricity for the electric motors but does not drive the wheels directly. The Juke Hybrid has a new 1.6 liter gas unit that works in tandem with two electrical motors. The combustion engine produces 94 horsepower (69kilowatts), and is supported by an electric motor of 49 HP (36-kW), another starter-generator of 20 HP (15-kW), and a battery pack of 1.2 kWh.
To maximize the powertrain’s efficiency, the system switches between series, parallel and series-parallel hybrid modes. Even though the battery is small, Nissan claims that its drivers were able to drive up to 80 percent in EV mode in cities despite their tiny size. The Juke Hybrid can travel up to 34 mph (55 km/h) in electric mode.
The transmission is perhaps the most important component of the Juke Hybrid’s powertrain. The Juke Hybrid’s automatic gearbox uses dog clutches rather than conventional synchronizer rings. It is low-friction and very smooth. Nissan claims the transmission can shift between four ICE and two EV gears. There is no clutch. The two electric motors work together to synchronize the gears and deliver “a smooth, connected and responsive acceleration.” Nissan says that driving the hybrid system almost feels like driving an electric car.
The hybrid Juke is visually very similar to regular combustion models. There are only a few differences: a lower bumper section, a new radiator grille, and a revised rear spoiler.