Nissan Motor Company has revealed that it has adopted cold spray technology in the production of valve seats, claiming to be the first company to use the process in automotive engines. The Japanese automaker confirmed that it is now using this new coating process in the production of its new 1.5L turbocharged engine, which is designed exclusively for power generation in its third-generation e-Power hybrid powertrain.

The cold spray process involves spraying powdered materials at supersonic speeds to form a solid layer. It has been widely adopted in the aerospace, heavy equipment, oil and gas, and other manufacturing industries because of its high reliability and quality.

Nissan further explained that that “cold spray technology operates below the melting points of the materials involved, enabling the bonding of dissimilar metals without melting. This process prevents the formation of excessive intermetallic compounds and micro-voids (porosity) that are common in traditional fusion welding methods. As a result, cold spray coatings exhibit superior adhesion, durability, and reliability—crucial qualities for engine valve seats.”

The first Nissan model to adopt the new engine, used in the company’s latest-generation e-Power hybrid powertrain, is the Qashqai compact crossover vehicle, which went into production at the company’s Sunderland assembly plant in the UK in July.

Nissan pointed out that its new1.5L turbocharged engine, codenamed ZR15DDTe, also employs the company’s proprietary Strong Tumble & Appropriately stretched Robust ignition Channel (STARC) technology, which minimizes airflow turbulence from the intake port into the combustion chamber. This improves thermal efficiency to up to 42% by stabilizing in-cylinder combustion.