Tuesday 28th January 2014

Nissan reveals ZEOD engine details

400hp and 40kg is just the start for the ZEOD's stunning engine

---

The Nissan ZEOD was already a fairly spectacular thing without any powertrain details. First revealed at last year's Le Mans, we knew it would feature a combustion engine to accompany the electric motor but nothing more.

400hp literally in his hands

Reading the spec sheet for its 1.5-litre DIG-T R turbo it's easy to understand the delay in releasing any information as it really is an incredible feat of mechanical engineering. It weighs 40kg yet makes 400hp from three cylinders. The engine's dimensions (500mm tall x 400mm long x 200mm wide) means it would fit in most aeroplane cabin baggage allowances. It revs to 7,500rpm and make 280lb ft of torque. Phenomenal.

Nissan has worked with Total developing the engine with the focus understandably on efficiency and reducing friction throughout the powertrain. The engine will power the ZEOD for the majority of the Le Mans laps, with the electric motor enough for around one lap an hour. It began testing with the completed drivetrain last week.

But perhaps most intriguingly of all is the prospect of this technology reaching Nissan's road cars. OK, don't expect a 400hp 1.5-litre triple in a Juke anytime soon but the future for downsizing isn't bleak. Nissan's Global Motorsport Director Darren Cox said of the engine "We're aiming to maintain our position as industry leaders in focussing on downsizing. Lessons learned from the development of the engine will be seen in Nissan road cars of the future." The next GT-R, due in 2015 or 2016, will definitely be a hybrid, so could this amazing little turbo form part of its powertrain?

See the 360-degree view of the engine here

[k-ink]

Amazing achievement. I can imagine this in a micro car!

[Brabus Jord]

This in a smart brabus roadster notch back.

would be amazing!

[inabox]

I want that in my mini van!

[4a4]

Wow! What an engine! Be interesting to hear this screaming about.

[Varn]

Who said the internal combustion engine was dead?

[prand]

Varn said:

Who said the internal combustion engine was dead?

I wonder what the mpg would be for a practical, road going 130hp version of this would be?

This is just the sort of thing I wanted to see in motor development - imagine micro petrol/diesel engines tied to electric motors and the future of car design and the combustion engine looks very rosy.

[ewenm]

"Hello Nissan, we're calling from Caterham Cars..."

[Brummmie]

Suzuki Hayabusa Turbo engines have been doing these power outputs for some time, but 40kgs is pretty damn light!

[OlberJ]

40kgs bare engine I presume? By the time you add on the turbo, pipework, intercooler etc what does it weigh?

[theJT]

Getting massive power out of small engines has never been all that hard. 1.5 litre 4 pots were turning out over 1000 horsepower in the first F1 turbo era, so 400 really is no biggie. The question is how "livable" is this engine. What sort of MPG does it get for it's size/power? How bad is the turbo lag? Is it usable across the rev range, or, like the F1 cars of old does it suddenly try and kill you half way up as the turbo suddenly kicks in?

I'm assuming the electric hybridy bits are there to pick up the slack when the turbo is off boost and keep the torque/power curves looking sane.

[fireturk]

imagine how small that would be without the turbo, wonder what the power output would be NA.

[kultsch88]

Imagine the 3.0 V6 this could make...

[robinessex]

theJT said:

Getting massive power out of small engines has never been all that hard. 1.5 litre 4 pots were turning out over 1000 horsepower in the first F1 turbo era, so 400 really is no biggie. The question is how "livable" is this engine. What sort of MPG does it get for it's size/power? How bad is the turbo lag? Is it usable across the rev range, or, like the F1 cars of old does it suddenly try and kill you half way up as the turbo suddenly kicks in?

I'm assuming the electric hybridy bits are there to pick up the slack when the turbo is off boost and keep the torque/power curves looking sane.

Actually, its was 1500bhp for the BMW. Just before it blew up I think! Once you turbo an engine, size doesn't matter, it's how much fuel you can stuff into it.

[anonymous-user]

No head gasket (common head/bores), super compact crankcase, single cam, cross block water cooling, DI, downdraft intake ports, wow, those germans have been busy!


;-)

[rhinochopig]

fireturk said:

imagine how small that would be without the turbo, wonder what the power output would be NA.

Given it was designed from the outset as a forced induction motor - probably about 50 bhp without the turbo.

[prand]

theJT said:

Getting massive power out of small engines has never been all that hard. 1.5 litre 4 pots were turning out over 1000 horsepower in the first F1 turbo era, so 400 really is no biggie. The question is how "livable" is this engine. What sort of MPG does it get for it's size/power? How bad is the turbo lag? Is it usable across the rev range, or, like the F1 cars of old does it suddenly try and kill you half way up as the turbo suddenly kicks in?

I'm assuming the electric hybridy bits are there to pick up the slack when the turbo is off boost and keep the torque/power curves looking sane.

Yes indeed, I remember seeing the Cossie F1 engine on a stand at Beauilieu and the turvbo seemed bigger than the engine. But like you say they ran at huge revs, lag was practically untameable.

[AndySA]

Nissan are producing some great tech at the moment, far more so than many other mainstream companies. Their road cars could be really ground breaking in the next 5 to 10 years if they keep it up.

[renrut]

I would like one in a Figaro please. Purely for sts and giggles.

[B5NXJ]

some people seem to be missing the point of this design master piece.

it is not been developed to be hammered down the 1/4 mile, it has not been developed to be thrashed for 4 min 50 sec on a hill climb its not even been developed to be run in one of the other 6 hour races that most lmp type cars run in throughout the rest of the calendar. it has been designed and developed to be hammered to hell for an entire 24 hours without stopping (minus the lap gained of electric power for every hour of running). yes the old F1 engines produced more BHP, but they were rather large grenades.

wish them all the luck in the world this summer.

[k-ink]

renrut said:

I would like one in a Figaro please. Purely for sts and giggles.

My girlfriend drives a green one of those. I'd like it transplanted in there to see her face when she mashes the loud pedal