Nissan has announced the imminent arrival of a new hybrid-electric powertrain for its Juke compact crossover line-up promising more power and greater fuel efficiency.
Electric-only running
The new system, due to arrive in the summer, will see a 94hp 1.6-litre petrol engine paired with a 49hp (36kW) electric motor to produce 143hp, which equates to 25 per cent more power than the current 1.0-litre petrol Juke while reducing fuel consumption by around 20 per cent.
Nissan says that, thanks to this new hybrid system, some 80 per cent of urban journeys can be completed in electric-only mode, with the petrol engine only kicking in periodically for spells of hybrid running when the 1.2kWh battery is depleted. Battery-only driving up to 55km/h can be selected via an interior switch for situation such as in car parks, in traffic jams or around schools where the driver doesn't want to run the petrol engine.
The new powertrain comes as a result of Nissan's alliance with Renault; Nissan provides the engine and electric motor while the liquid-cooled battery, starter-generator and gearbox come from Renault.
Speaking of that gearbox, it's a clutch-less, multi-mode automatic system with four "ICE" gears and two "EV" gears all synchronised by the two electric motors to deliver smooth acceleration.
One-pedal driving isn't exactly possible like in an electric vehicle, but switching on e-Pedal mode allows for the strongest level of regenerative braking, slowing the Juke down to a 5km/h crawl speed, though not a full stop.
Visual changes
In addition to the new powertrain there are a few visual tweaks to the hybrid Juke, mostly in the name of making it more aerodynamic. There's a new grille, for example, with shutters that open and close depending on the engine's cooling requirements. The front bumper has been redesigned too, as has the rear spoiler. Less noticeable are the tyre spoilers and rear axle cover aimed at optimising airflow and making the hybrid more efficient.
More in the name of visual appeal than efficiency are new two-tone 17-inch alloy wheels as well as optional 19-inch duotone wheels that also feature on the upcoming electric Nissan Ariya.
Interior changes for the Juke hybrid aren't extensive, the biggest perhaps being the 68-litre reduction in boot space (now 354 litres) due to the battery packaging. The instrument panel too has been revised to better provide information more relevant to hybrid driving, such as the state of battery charge.
Between the new powertrain and the aerodynamic improvements, the hybrid Juke's official fuel consumption has been reduced to 4.4 litres/100km.
How much is the Nissan Juke hybrid in Ireland?
Irish pricing for the hybrid Juke has yet to be announced. The current model starts from €24,195, rising to €31,700.