Carmakers often collaborate with companies in other industries for special promotions of their models, usually taking inspiration from their products to create special editions. These are usually for a limited number of units so whoever gets to buy them is lucky to have a rare model.
With a name like Kicks for its crossover SUV, it seemed only a matter of time before Nissan came up with a collaboration with a footwear brand, in this case New Balance. But there’s a twist to this collaboration: instead of New Balance having a Nissan Kicks-inspired shoe, it is Nissan that has a New Balance shoe-inspired Kicks!
Since being launched in 1991, the Nissan Serena has had a varied model cycle through 5 generations, as long as 8 years (first generation) and as short as 5 years (third generation). Nevertheless, it has been a popular MPV in Japan because of its family-friendly design which has evolved with the changing needs of customers.
The sixth generation (C28) launched recently continues with this successful formula while offering new powertrain technologies and safety systems. Though having some visual similarities to the C27 generation, the new Serena has revamped styling, while maintaining roughly the same footprint. It also has the widest windscreen in the MPV category (1.2 – 2.0 litre class with 7/8-seats).
Since the late 1990s, hybrid powertrain systems have been developed by various manufacturers, acting as the first step in electrification of vehicles. The systems are similar in having an electric motor and a combustion engine but differ in the way they operate. The ideal operating strategy is to be able to use the electric motor as much as possible, with the engine coming in when extra power is needed.
Nissan’s e-POWER system takes a slightly different approach although it has the motor and engine as well. Part of the electrification strategy under Nissan Intelligent Mobility, e-POWER borrows from the EV technology developed for the LEAF, now the best-selling fully electric car in history.
Nissan Intelligent Mobility anchors critical company decisions around how cars are powered, how cars are driven, and how cars integrate into society. In 2006, Nissan R&D was able to achieve a breakthrough in its energy management technology by reducing the battery capacity to match its competitors’ hybrid vehicles while still delivering desirable EV qualities, such as quietness and efficient energy use. In addition, application of Nissan’s technologies, such as the integration of a power-generating engine, electric motor drive for compact car use, strengthening of the powertrain’s rigidity and improvements in NVH levels, became the foundation of e-POWER and its implementation in the compact-car segment.
Where the LEAF requires regular recharging of its battery pack, an e-POWER system does not need that as a small petrol engine is used to charge the high-output battery pack when necessary. This means that the driver will have no need to look for a charging station (or set one up in his home) and no ‘range anxiety’ (the fear of running of out electricity and being unable to recharge).
A significant difference between the e-POWER system and other hybrid systems is that the wheels are driven only by the electric motor. With other hybrid systems, the motor and engine are used to propel the vehicle, varying their amount of contribution according to driving conditions.
The e-POWER’s compact powertrain consists of a petrol engine, power generator, inverter, and electric motor. In conventional hybrid systems, a low-output electric motor is mated to a petrol engine to drive the wheels when the battery is low (or when traveling at higher speeds). However, in the e-POWER system, the engine is not connected to the wheels; its function is to charge the battery. Thus, the car has its own ‘charging station’ wherever it goes, recharging the battery whenever it is low.
This system structure generally requires a bigger motor and battery because the motor is the only power source to drive wheels. This has made it hard for the automotive industry to mount the system in compact cars. However, Nissan found a way to minimize and reduce weight, develop more responsive motor control methods and optimize energy management. As a result, the e-POWER system can use a smaller battery than the LEAF but delivers EV performance.
This means that there is maximum torque almost instantly – a characteristic of electric motors – , which enhances acceleration. Because the system relies on the engine less frequently, fuel efficiency is comparable to that of leading conventional hybrids, especially during daily town driving.
The Note sold in Japan was the first model to use the e-POWER system.
Over the years, Nissan has been improving and refining the e-POWER system while also offering it in selected models for the Japanese market. It has been progressively offered in other markets since 2020 and this year, the new Qashqai SUV will be the first model in Europe to be equipped with the system. The system was also introduced in China last year in the new Sylphy model.
At the heart of the latest e-POWER system is a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged variable compression 156 bhp petrol engine (pictured below) which has been developed specifically for this application. First used by Infiniti, the engine’s variable compression capability (between 8.1 and 14.1:1) is a unique feature in an internal combustion engine and allows it to adjust compression ratio, giving both optimum performance and economy depending on the engine load. The 140 kW electric motor is of a similar size and power output as found in Nissan’s EV models.
With the variable compression ratio, the engine runs within its optimal range and best compression ratio, leading to superior fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions compared with a traditional internal combustion engine, as well as a refined drive thanks to reduced engine noise.
To maximise performance, in high acceleration or high-speed situations, the energy management control unit within the e-POWER system can send the power generated by the engine directly to the electric motor, via the inverter, to bolster the electricity supply which is coming from the battery. Under deceleration and braking, the kinetic energy is recaptured and channelled back to the battery to optimise efficiency.
Key to the development of the e-POWER system for the Qashqai was the need to ensure the driving experience gave a ‘connected’ sensation, where the petrol engine speed remains relative to the vehicle’s road speed. Engineers at Nissan Technical Centre Europe collaborated in developing a system called ‘Linear Tune’. This feature governs the petrol engine and progressively increases the speed of the 1.5-litre engine to meet the motor’s energy demands as the car accelerates, ensuring there is no ‘disconnect’ between what the occupants experience in terms of performance and sound.
New Qashqai is first Nissan model in Europe with e-POWER.
The disparity between engine speed and road speed is a phenomenon that drivers and passengers find unsettling. For example, a sudden rise in engine revs without a commensurate increase in speed is perceived as frustrating and ‘disconnected’ by occupants – which Linear Tune addresses.
Although sales of EVs are growing rapidly, especially in Europe, Nissan understands that not everyone is ready to make the switch for various reasons. The e-POWER system therefore provides a transitional phase where the benefits of using an EV can be experienced without the present concerns that many may have regarding recharging and range.
Although the Nissan Kicks, inspired by the streets of Brazil, has been around since 2016, it has not been available in ASEAN. To make up for that, the carmaker has launched the e-POWER version and it’s actually a world debut which took place in Thailand. The model is built at the Nissan factory in the country as well.
The Kicks e-POWER, as the ‘e’ suggests, uses an electrified powertrain. The technology used in e-POWER has been proven in Japan where it has been available for the past few years. The compact hybrid powertrain uses an EM57 electric motor, generator and inverter that generates electricity from its 1.2 litre DOHC 12-valve 3-cylinder petrol engine. Electricity is stored in a 1.57 kWh lithium-ion battery pack
The e-POWER system can generate a maximum power output of 95 kW/129 ps, with up to 250 Nm of torque. Unique to e-POWER technology, when extra acceleration is required or when climbing a steep hill, the electric motor receives power from both the battery and the engine to enhance its performance. During deceleration, the engine stops running, and regenerative power is used to charge the battery until the vehicle comes to a complete stop, wasting no energy generated from deceleration.
The driving experience is also enhanced by intelligent accelerator technology. Its one-pedal technology (also found in the latest LEAF EV) allows drivers to launch, accelerate, decelerate, or stop the car by using only the accelerator pedal. By using only one pedal, tasks such as judging the distance between cars, decelerating, and stopping when going downhill or stopping for traffic lights are greatly simplified.
The driver can choose from 4 driving modes: Normal, S, Eco and EV. In Normal, the car produces strong acceleration off the line and stopping power (lifting off the acceleration pedal) that is claimed to be on par with the braking of its conventional petrol-powered counterparts. In S, the car accelerates quicker with enhanced stopping power. Eco is the fuel-saving mode which is regulated by battery power. EV mode uses stored battery electric power only, allowing a quiet drive experience without the petrol engine operating.
The Kick features 14 best-in-class Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies. These include Intelligent Cruise Control, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Intelligent Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection and Intelligent Rear View Mirror.
Inside the Kicks
Inside, the passenger cabin features high-quality design and refinement, including the modern and simple ‘Gliding Wing’ instrument panel design that is dominated by a centrally-mounted 7-inch full-colour display housing a comprehensive infotainment system.
Intelligent Integration elements are powered by Nissan Connect, a multi-infotainment system with 8-inch touchscreen Colour Display Audio. It keeps customers ahead of the curve by bringing infotainment, navigation, safety and security under a single platform with a seamless connection via smartphone (Apple CarPlay for iOS).
“The launch of the all-new Nissan Kicks e-POWER in Thailand represents the disruptive and innovative DNA of Nissan that we continue to bring to the region,” said Yutaka Sanada, MC Chairman and Regional Senior Vice-President, Nissan Asia & Oceania. “This is an exciting day for Nissan and Thailand, as a key global production and export hub for Nissan and regional leader driving the company’s vision for electrification of mobility.”
In Thailand, the price range for the four versions start from 889,000 baht and goes up to 1,049,000 baht (RM120,650 – RM142,360). The battery pack is designed to last for up to 10 years and the electric system for up to 5 years. This is complemented by a factory warranty of 3 years or maximum of 100,000 kms.
Coming to Malaysia?
Last year, Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) did some promotion of EVs and also launched the second-generation LEAF EV as well as the X-Trail Hybrid. With the Almera already long in the market, it would seem like a good idea to replace it with the Kicks. However, whether the e-POWER variant will be offered or just with a conventional powertrain remains to be seen. Typically, ETCM is tight-lipped about new models although it has mentioned that this new model will be offered in future.
Visit www.nissan.com.my to know more about the LEAF and X-Trail Hybrid.
