New Nissan hybrid, CVT headed to North America
20.05.04
The Nissan Altima mid-sized sedan could get a big boost in fuel economy with next year's model change as the brand rolls out an improved continuously variable transmission and its first in-house front-wheel-drive hybrid system for North America.
The upgraded pulley-style transmission alone should lift fuel efficiency by 10 percent over the CVT now used in the Altima and other vehicles, including the Maxima and Rogue .
Meanwhile, the new gasoline-electric drivetrain puts Nissan back in the hybrid race after announcing plans in June to discontinue the Altima Hybrid, the brand's only hybrid offering.
Nissan Motor Co. showed the powertrain developments during a Wednesday test drive and advanced technologies event at the carmaker's Oppama proving grounds south of Tokyo.
The hybrid system, due in 2013, will be Nissan's first in-house hybrid drivetrain for front-wheel-drive cars. It will replace the Toyota-based system, which Nissan had used in the Altima, said Masayuki Yasuoka, a senior manager in Nissan's next generation powertrain group.
Source: AutoWeek