The next-generation Juke may be Nissan’s first model offered as a range-extended electric vehicle.
An executive recently confirmed production plans for the technology, which it refers to as Pure Drive e-Power. The drive system made its debut in the wild Gripz concept, propelled by the Leaf’s electric motor and a mechanically-decoupled gasoline engine that kicks in as an electric generator when battery capacity has been depleted.
The company has dismissed the idea of adding a gasoline range extended to the Leaf, leaving the next Juke as a likely platform to introduce the technology, according to Australia’s Motoring.
If the speculation proves accurate, the range-extended Juke will likely deliver performance similar to the Leaf with 107 horsepower and 187 lb-ft of torque. It will also presumably be offered with traditional poweretrains, likely topping out with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder mill that delivers more than 200 ponies.
The next-gen Juke is expected to bring a toned-down bodystyle with a bit less quirkiness than the current edition. Nissan’s V-motion grille and boomerang headlights will keep the crossover consistent with the company’s latest design language, and a few styling cues will likely be borrowed from the Gripz concept.
Nissan has promised to detail launch plans for the technology in an announcement next year. Despite the seemingly solid rumors surrounding the Juke, the company could also be preparing an entirely new nameplate to showcase the Pure Drive e-Power system.
Leave a Reply