Due on our shores shortly along with new CVT and all-wheel drive Jukes; European Nissan Juke crossovers have gained a frugal 1.5-litre dCi engine with increased torque so it will now be capable of 260 Nm. The sixth generation of the 1.5 dCi engine brings a healthy 20 Nm torque gain and 80% of it is available from as low as 1 500 r/min. The 1.5 dCi is also available in the bigger Nissan Qashai.
More importantly, however, CO2 emissions have been reduced to only 109 g/km and fuel consumption now stands at a claimed and combined 4.2 L/ 100 km. This is courtesy of updated piezo-electric fuel injection nozzles and a low-inertia variable geometry turbocharger. Other updates include a new oil pump, diamond-like carbon coatings for lower friction and a stop/start system to save every drop of fuel at the lights.
The new engine is developed in accordance with Nissan’s alliance partners, Renault, and Nissan say it also benefits the customer by providing reduced noise levels, greater refinement and revised gear ratios for improved drivability. The engine is compliant with the strictest Euro6 levels of emissions and features Nissan’s start/stop system that restarts in less than 0.5 seconds of the clutch being engaged. The engine’s overall power output remains at 82 kW while performance figures are also unchanged – top speed of 175 km/h and a 0 to 100 km/h time of 11.2 seconds.
Nissan South Africa has stayed tight-lipped about a “Nissan Juke range expansion,” might this 1.5 dCi be what they’re talking about? If so, we look forward to it.
