Nissan’s new-wave Kicks e-Power crossover is hardly a stranger in Malaysia, having been on display at the 2024 Malaysia Autoshow. However, Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has been hedging its bets as to when the Kicks will officially go on sale here—and then a teaser image appeared.
An official press release from ETCM stated that the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024) will see the formal introduction of the “all-new e-Power model” here in Malaysia. Although it would make the most sense considering that the car is presently on tour at Nissan stores around the country, there is still no confirmation that the Nissan Kicks e-Power will be introduced here.
First introduced in 2016, the e-Power hybrid powertrain is somewhat unique in its segment due to its series hybrid configuration. The e-Power system’s electric motor provides all of the propulsion, in contrast to the majority of other hybrid configurations available on the market. There is no need to plug in the car to charge the lithium-ion battery pack because the onboard engine charges the battery pack exclusively while operating at peak efficiency and speed.
Nissan claims that under this setup, the e-Power hybrid system can serve as a “gateway to fully electric vehicles” since buyers will be acclimated to the features and advantages of EVs, such as the electric motor’s instant torque. The Kicks e-Power’s powertrain consists of a single, 131-hp 1.2-litre naturally aspirated three-cylinder engine that charges a 1.57 kWh battery. With a claimed fuel consumption figure of just 2.2 L/100km, Nissan says that the Kicks e-Power can travel up to 900 km on a single tank of fuel!
Chief engineer Naoki Nakada, who oversaw the development of the powertrain for both the Leaf EV and the R35 Nissan GT-R, stated that although the series system may appear straightforward in theory, it was actually quite complicated to implement. “You have to get the balance right between electricity use and power generation, ensure the perfect timing for when the petrol engine operates and match the battery capacity to the type of car,” says Nakada.
“We want to make e-Power available to as many people as we can, as quickly as we can. We are providing customers with the complete electric driving experience with e-Power, which can hasten the transition to a world of electrified transportation that is carbon neutral,” Nakada continued.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
In addition to the Kicks, the special e-Power series hybrid drivetrain is also available in the sixth-generation Serena, fourth-generation X-Trail, and the third-generation Note. Given that the Serena has experienced some success in Malaysia, we expect this minivan to be the most likely one to arrive first, even before the Kicks. But just which model will start the e-Power journey here is still anybody’s guess. Watch this space.