Nissan developing new hybrid coupe to compete with Honda CR-Z
Hot on the tail of the Honda CR-Z Hybrid, Nissan is preparing their own hybrid coupe to go head-to-head with its rival. The front-wheel-drive, hybrid sports car will be built on a modified "B" platform and will offer an aggressive coupe appearance with a wide stance -- a look popular in Europe, its primary market. To keep weight at a minimum, Nissan will likely utilize aluminum body panels. For improved aerodynamics, the new coupe may be fitted with flat bottom panels (a trick used on the Nissan GT-R). With engine details sketchy, most anticipate the powerplant to be a four-cylinder 1.5-liter HR15DE, coupled to an electric motor and power would be sent to the front wheels through a six-speed DSG transmission. We don't expect to see the new Nissan, or the Honda for that matter, in showrooms before early 2010.
[Source: 7tune]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rick 10:53AM (6/23/2008)
FOUR DOOR HYBRIDS PLEASE!!!!
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Gerald 5:14PM (6/23/2008)
There are enough 4 door hybrids. Altima, Civic, Accord, Camry, Escape, LXh, etc. Take your pick. I think we need more two-door hybrids for those of us who don't want to look like nerds.
g unit 11:55AM (6/23/2008)
These flat bottomed things scare me..they better have some sort of venturi or something allowing the car to not go airborn!
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Crashmaxx 3:25PM (6/23/2008)
I lol'ed at your complete lack of knowledge of aerodynamics.
geo.stewart 9:13AM (6/23/2008)
an aggressive coupe appearance with a wide stance -- a look popular in Europe, its primary market.
i THINK its pretty popular in the US also, hopefully its secondary market. please teach VW a thing or two for not bringing over the scirocco (Yes I know not same size or p/t competition)
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John Johnson 9:38AM (6/23/2008)
This hybrid crap is going to cost too much and will just be more parts to break. What happened to the old small engines we used to have? The CRX was a small engine in a light, aerodynamic car. Do the same here and you'll have a winner.
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MajorGeek 9:40AM (6/23/2008)
Agreed. By 2010 when all these Hybrids are out, gas could be stable at 4 bucks a gallon and with inflation many may be used to it meaning no one will want these Hybrids.... that is assuming we figure out where all these batteries are going to come from, and where we are dumping them later.
John Johnson 9:44AM (6/23/2008)
Not to mention this will cost an extravagant amount more because of it's hybrid system, while a small diesel (or even regular gas engine) will be in some other cheap car. Which one would you buy?
rouse42 11:02AM (6/23/2008)
by 2010 gas will be $6.00 a gallon in the US. wait and see.
were all gonna praise the fact that something like this can offer 60+mpg and still be fun.
nobody seems to understand what sort of tq these electric motors can provide. the prius motor is rated at 67hp at 1200-1540rpm and 295tq! at ZERO - 1200 rpm.
now take that system and tune it for performance and you just might have something.
cant wait for more details on the CRZ
Throwback 9:47AM (6/23/2008)
At $4 a gallon, I think high MPG will still be important. In the USA we expect small cars to get great gas mileage. Hybrids are the easiest way to get there. I to would prefer small lightweight cars with small gas engines. However, I'm not sure if the average car buyer wants a Mazda 2 sized car.
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Za 11:31AM (6/23/2008)
Hybrids aren't the easiest way to get there. Lighter cars are. The Geo Metro is low-tech and gets ridiculous mileage compared to most of the stuff that's out there now. If you think hybrids are "easy" to design, engineer, build, and maintain, I doubt you understand how the systems work.
SimbaDogg 3:11PM (6/23/2008)
@Za
yeah, but the metro, CRX (my first car), excel and all the cars of the early 90s/late 80s were DEATH traps.
Mirko 9:52AM (6/23/2008)
Hey, it's the Nissan Scirocco!
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mk 10:14AM (6/23/2008)
actually, with that grille and lower intakes, it is an infiniti scirocco
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MICKoWAR 10:42AM (6/23/2008)
Great to see sports cars that come under the hybrid wings, however it would be even better again to see them using an alternative fuel rather then tickeling the fancys of the oil companies anyways!
Though, its always better then seeing an outright unaffordable (to drive) car. For other fuel saving ideas you should read this book total driving, it was absolutly amazing! The url was www.total-driving.com if i remember correctly!
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anti-believer 10:59AM (6/23/2008)
Oh you mean they are bring back the Pulsar ????
Well, they can keep it.
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d mran 11:21AM (6/23/2008)
Gas won't be four dollars again. Even if it were, the days of an American buying a vehicle without looking at the mileage sticker is over (for the most part).
Heres to small, light, efficient & hopefully fun cars.
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Stéphane Dumas 12:01PM (6/23/2008)
Unless the upcoming diesel engines offering set for the new ULSD standards (and compatible with biodiesel) enter the scene. For some who want a bigger car but still having efficiency, it could be a good compromise. The folks of Diesel Power magazine dream of "diesel muscle-cars" and "diesel sports cars" http://blogs.dieselpowermag.com/6224641/diesel-news/musclecars-of-the-future-diesel-powered/index.html http://www.dieselpowermag.com/news/0803dp_diesel_transformation/index.html
If it's not possible we might see more diesel/biodiesel swaps like that 1965 Impala showed on "Pimp my Ride" last year http://www.racedriven.com/2007/04/800hp-biodiesel-65-chevy-impala-on-pimp.html
d mran 1:22PM (6/23/2008)
I live in CA where diesel is almost entirely absent from the private car equation (except for older Mercedes station wagons.)
I'd love if we had high efficiency clean burning diesels as an option, but seems that my next vehicle will be a small petrol or petrol/electric hybrid
The equivalent diesel electric hybrid or pure diesel car, in California at least, will be 7-10 years further out.
The problem is the high sulphur diesel available here rather than next generation diesel engines being anything other than brilliant, or so they say.
torpeau 11:57AM (6/23/2008)
I may look at the Nissan, but give me that Honda and I want it soon!!!!!!!
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