Supporting Nissan’s goal of achieving 50 per cent electrified sales in Europe by FY23, the new Nissan Qashqai will not only be available with a 1.3 DiG-T petrol equipped with mild hybrid technology, but it also represents the European debut of e-POWER, Nissan’s powertrain that draws technologies from the company’s pioneering Nissan LEAF electric vehicle.

The e-POWER system for New Qashqai has been specially developed for the model to meet the demands of European drivers. Nissan says that with both 2WD and 4WD variants, 6-speed manual or new Xtronic CVT transmissions, and pure-electric motor driving courtesy of e-POWER, the all-new Qashqai’s powertrain options cater for every customer requirement.

“Customers rightly demand more efficient vehicles, but they also want an enjoyable driving experience. Electric vehicles have the highest satisfaction for driving sensations and customers love the instant torque and continuous acceleration they deliver. By adopting 100% electric motor drive with e-POWER on the new electrified Qashqai, customers can enjoy the benefits of EV driving, without the consideration of range or access to charging infrastructure,” said Marco Fioravanti, Vice President, Product Planning, Nissan Automotive Europe.

1.3 DiG-T PETROL 138 bhp/156 bhp 12V ALiS MILD HYBRID
The 12V ALiS (Advanced Lithium-ion battery System) mild hybrid system available on new Qashqai is a more affordable hybrid technology that provides torque assist, extended idle stop, quick restart and coasting stop [CVT only], with improvements to both fuel economy and CO₂ output (-4g/km).

Nissan says the 1.3-litre engine delivers more power and torque than key competitors, and that the ALiS mild hybrid system adds just 22kg to the overall vehicle mass.

When decelerating, energy is recovered through regeneration and stored in the Lithium-ion battery. This charged energy is then supplied during Idling Stop, Coasting Stop (CVT versions only) and Torque Assist.

When coasting to a stop, at speeds of less than 11mph, and ‘brake on’, the engine will switch off and the stored energy is used to power the vehicle’s electrical equipment. This allows engine stop to be extended and fuel consumption lowered as a result.

When accelerating (between 12mph and 68mph), the energy in the Lithium-ion battery allows the motor to assist with an additional +4.4 lb ft torque for up to 20 seconds. This helps reduce the torque effort on the engine and improves fuel economy.

The ALiS is mated to the 1.3 DiG-T petrol engine that was introduced to Qashqai in 2018. This engine has been improved further for new Qashqai with 50 newly designed components and Euro6-d Full compliance.

The turbo charger now features an electrically controlled waste gate for quicker response; new nozzles improve the central injector; reduced friction across a number of components improve CO₂; and the gas particulate filter features a new substrate and under floor catalyst.

The 1.3-petrol 12V ALiS will be offered with two power outputs – 138bhp and 156bhp – with either a 6-speed manual transmission, or new Xtronic CVT gearbox (156bhp only). Max engine power arrives at 5500rpm, with maximum available torque of 199lb ft at a convenient 1750rpm on 156bhp CVT and high power MT variants.

On manual versions the gearbox has been enhanced for a quicker, more direct and sportier shift feeling. The new generation Xtronic CVT transmission offers better fuel economy and acceleration feel thanks to improvements including a twin oil pump system with new electrical oil pump.

2WD is available on both 138bhp and 156bhp versions, whilst 4WD will only be available on 156bhp CVT models. A new 4WD control system adapts itself to external conditions with five driving modes – Standard, ECO, Sport, Snow and Off-Road. In case of any wheel slip, the time which the 4WD system acts has been reduced by a factor of five to around 0.2 seconds.

E-POWER
The new Qashqai brings the first deployment of Nissan’s e‑POWER drive system to Europe. This is exclusive to Nissan and a key component in the company’s Intelligent Mobility strategy.

The new Qashqai’s e-POWER system is comprised of a high-output battery and powertrain integrated with a variable compression ratio 155bhp petrol engine, power generator, inverter and 140kW electric motor of similar size and power output as found in Nissan’s electric vehicles.

Nissan says that to meet the typical demands of European consumers, the e-POWER installation has been significantly upgraded for the new Qashqai. Where the application in the Note – Japan’s best-selling car in recent years – is a 1.2 petrol engine charging the battery unit, and a final power output of 106bhp. For Europe it has been upgraded to a 1.5-litre petrol engine, with a final power output of 140kW (187 bhp).

The distinctive element of the e-Power is that the petrol engine is used solely to generate electricity, whilst the wheels are completely driven by the electric motor. This means the engine can always run within its optimal range, leading to superior fuel efficiency and lower CO₂ emissions compared with a traditional internal combustion engine.

“The e-POWER system offers the best transition technology between ICE and EV, allowing users to enjoy exhilarating EV driving sensations and impressive efficiency at an affordable price point. We’re really looking forward to customers experiencing the thrill of new Qashqai’s superior electrified driving performance – it’s a perfect expression of Nissan Intelligent Mobility,” said David Moss, Region Senior Vice President Research and Development, Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO).

There are three driving modes on e-POWER versions: Standard, Sport and Eco. In Standard, the car produces excellent acceleration and lift-off regeneration is tuned to simulate the engine-braking of a conventional petrol vehicle. In Sport mode, the car further improves acceleration response with reduced engine off time, especially in sporty driving scenarios. In Eco, the car goes into fuel-saving mode by optimising battery management and allowing the driver to select a coasting model for economical highway driving. In all modes an additional B mode can be selected which increases the energy recuperation at lift-off, slowing the car more efficiently without the use of the brake pedal.

Similar to the LEAF, the new Qashqai e-POWER benefits from a new ‘one pedal’ driving experience called e-Pedal mode. Drivers can start, accelerate and decelerate using only the accelerator pedal, supporting up to 90 per cent of driving scenarios.

Drivers can monitor the energy flow of e-POWER on the 12-inch TFT meter to check the system state.

Sales of the new Nissan Qashqai equipped with e-POWER will begin in 2022.