Nissan's new 400 hp 3cyl.

[GretchenGotGrowl]

I think some people are are missing the bigger picture here. They are evidently using the substantial weight savings to add more batteries to the car. That will allow them greater range on just electric motors. That is the biggest application to the consumer market. Say they can scale this down to a 150 HP 50 lb engine? Put something like that in the Volt and you can add a lot more batteries. That extends electric range and overall eMPG.

[StanTheMan]

Originally Posted by GretchenGotGrowl

I think some people are are missing the bigger picture here. They are evidently using the substantial weight savings to add more batteries to the car. That will allow them greater range on just electric motors. That is the biggest application to the consumer market. Say they can scale this down to a 150 HP 50 lb engine? Put something like that in the Volt and you can add a lot more batteries. That extends electric range and overall eMPG.

Not only! When it eventually goes into production (and I'm sure it will), it won't be a 400hp engine. It's all about efficiency. They'll make it less powerful, probably being even lighter and imagine how much more economical in terms of fuel consumption, a car will become when you shave a good 100-150kgs worth of engine...

[matt55]

Originally Posted by StanTheMan

It's like beating a dead horse. Seriously. It's not about the freaking power alone for God's sake, it's about how much power they've been able to squeeze out of 88lbs motor. Jesus! This motor weights less than 20% of the camaro V8, yet makes almost the same power. It's the weight that's the showstar here! The power is just a bonus.

For God's sake we're saying the same thing
Hp/weight =good

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by sspolo

Lol some of you guys are a though crowd if its not GM related. Cadillac comes out with a turbo 6 420ish HP car and its amazing. However Nissan comes out with this and its not impressive.

I tend not to be impressed by forced induction in general. Of course you can make a lot of power when you force more air into an engine. Thats pretty basic. So they're running twice the boost of a normal turbocharged street engine, thats not all that difficult to do. Especially when you don't have to worry about cost or emissions, and can use 130 octane racing fuel.

Originally Posted by StanTheMan

Guys it all goes together. It's one package. You say 400hp from a 1.5l isn't impressive but 400hp from 88lbs is? They're both as impressive when you take into account the weight. How many production cars do you know of having that kind of power from the kind of motor even leaving aside the weight. NONE! And before you say it's a racing engine, no it is not a racing engine. As some else said, what better way to test an engine than running it at 100% for 24hrs straight. They're testing technology that will be put in road cars sooner rather than later. Even F1 cars are used to test technology for road cars. Flappy pedal gearbox, carbon ceramic brakes, carbon fiber chassis, tires, KERS... It's all thanks to racing so stop saying it's not impressive for a racing engine.

How can you say its not a racing engine when its getting put into the Zero Emissions On Demand Racing Car, for the 24 hours of LeMans. Last I checked that is a very famous race. So if this little 1.5L engine is not a race engine, I don't know what it is.

Also, that engine is not being run for 24 hours at 100% (besides the 1 lap per fuel run under electric power, you usually have to let off the gas in the corners), and even if it were there are worse endurance tests for engines. Such as running at wide open throttle for 270 consecutive hours (a week and a half), like what the LSA did. Or the Dakar Rally, thousands of miles through rough, dusty terrain. A 24 hour endurance race is tough, sure. But its not extreme abuse either.

[silentownage001]

The Jaguar C-X75 had a 1.6L 4-cylinder that made 500hp. Add in the electric motors and it makes 890hp. Unfortunately it was cancelled :(

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...e-drive-review

Nice to see that companies are getting more power from smaller engines.

[toehead93]

Originally Posted by Criag B

@ 88 LBS. I would install 3 in my car.

Go for it, the first V9 powered car!

[Thrillz]

Very impressive but would never buy one. Call me closed minded but im stuck in my ways with V8 motors for performance vehicles. No replacement for displacement ;o)