The Nissan Qashqai is now on sale in the UK with a new 1.3-litre petrol engine that is the fruit of the Renault-Nissan Alliance's collaboration with Daimler.
Nissan says the highly efficient new engine – which is available in 140PS and 160PS outputs – delivers reduced fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions. It draws on the strength and resources of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and has been developed in collaboration with Daimler.
The engine is making its Nissan debut in the Qashqai. It is available linked to a six-speed manual transmission and an all-new seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), both of which are front-wheel drive. It's the first time a DCT has appeared in a volume Nissan model, and provides customers with a sporty and more direct dynamic experience, improved standing-start performance and smooth power delivery.
There are three versions of the new 1.3-litre engine – a 140PS six-speed manual, a 160PS six-speed manual and a 160PS seven-speed DCT. Torque figures are 240Nm for the low output, 260Nm for the high output manual and 270Nm for the DCT.
This enhanced petrol powertrain line-up sets a new standard for drivability in the Qashqai, it is claimed. Customers, Nissan maintains, will notice improved response and acceleration through more power and torque, smoother and more linear power delivery, and a quieter driving experience. Service intervals are also extended.
Jean-Philippe Roux, general manager, crossovers, Nissan Europe, commented: "The launch of this all-new 1.3-litre unit is the right response to changing market conditions, meeting customer demand for a highly effective petrol engine that delivers outstanding driving performance and fuel efficiency."
In the Qashqai, the three new 1.3-litre powertrains directly replace three older ones – the 1.2-litre 115PS manual and CVT, and the 1.6-litre 163PS manual. All the new powertrains are compliant with the latest Euro 6d-Temp emissions standard.
All three powertrains are extremely competitive versus those available from other manufacturers, and in many cases the level of CO2 emissions is significantly better.
As well as offering reduced fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions, the new engine provides a smoother response at low RPM, more vigorous acceleration and quicker / safer overtaking manoeuvres.
Improved efficiency comes thanks to a fundamental reworking of the engine design compared with previous petrol units. A gasoline particulate filter has been added, and areas of improvement include the fuel injection system, combustion chamber design, reduced friction and optimisation of the turbocharger. It also offers a quieter experience for occupants because of the higher torque at low RPM.
Compared to the outgoing 1.2-litre 115PS manual, the new 1.3-litre 140PS manual has an extra 25PS and an extra 50Nm of torque. In the Qashqai on 17-inch wheels, the CO2 emissions are 121g/km (NEDC-BT), which is 8g/km lower than previously (NEDC).
Comparing the same two powertrains, acceleration has also improved. While the 0-100 km/h time is almost identical (10.6 secs on the 1.2, versus 10.5 secs on the new 1.3) fourth gear acceleration from 80-100 km/h has dropped from 5.7 to 4.5 seconds – an 18% improvement. In sixth gear at 100-120 km/h it's even better – a 35% improvement offering much greater flexibility for the driver.
Compared to the outgoing 1.6-litre 163PS manual, the new 1.3-litre 160PS manual has 3PS less power but an extra 20Nm of torque. In the Qashqai on 17-inch wheels, the CO2 emissions are 121g/km (NEDC-BT), which is 13g/km lower than previously (NEDC).
The all-new DCT is a wet-clutch system which delivers a refined driving experience. It features electrical on-demand cooling and electro-mechanic gear actuation to improve efficiency. It provides clear benefits to customers – both private and fleet – when compared to the outgoing CVT transmission on the Qashqai. The driver experiences an immediate gear shift with no power interruptions, while the absence of a torque converter creates a more direct driving feeling – so it's more fun to drive.
Cost of ownership for consumers is reduced thanks to lower maintenance costs over the lifetime of the vehicle. For example, service intervals have been extended from 20,000 km to 30,000km. In addition, the 8g/km reduction in CO2 emissions on the two manual transmission models means reduced tax payments by the customer. Under the current local tax regimes, that would be -GBP290 (US$378) for the UK, -EUR36 (US$41) for Germany and EUR163 for France.
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Nissan's new 1.3-litre petrol engine has been developed by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, and has undergone 40,000 hours of tests and simulation. As part of that testing, the engine underwent 300,000km of validation driving in some of the world's most extreme conditions.
By using the strength and resources of the Alliance, Nissan can deliver synergies which push the boundaries of what is possible from a petrol engine. The resulting 1.3-litre powertrain offers the highest levels of performance and refinement to customers, meets the strictest standards of reliability and durability, and reduces CO2 emissions.
The engine has been developed in collaboration with Daimler who will use it on their Mercedes-Benz brand vehicles. The Alliance expects to build up to one million of these engines in the next fiscal year, and it will be fitted to more than 50% of all Qashqais sold.
