Next Nissan Altima To Get CVT & Supercharged Hybrid

[William Maley]

Next Nissan Altima To Get New CVT & Supercharged Hybrid

William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

October 13, 2011

Nissan is hard at work on the next generation Altima due out sometime next year as a 2013 model and is expected to see an increase in fuel economy thanks to two items.

First is a new CVT that will improve the fuel economy by as much as 10%. Nissan reduced the transmission’s internal friction by 40 percent and raised the CVT’s gear coverage ratio from 6.0 to 7.0. Given the current CVT in the Altima helps gives it a EPA rating of 32 MPG highway, the new one should see that number climb.

Also, Nissan is working on their own in-house hybrid system that will use two-clutch and one-motor system, with a set of lithium-ion batteries supplying the electric power. A 2.5L four-cylinder engine with a supercharger will be also be part of the powerplant.

No word when the new Altima will make it's first appearance.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

[loki]

sounds good for nissan

[Drew Dowdell]

Wonder if the supercharger means they are going Miller Cycle on the 4-cylinder. It's the only reason I can think of to do so instead of a Turbo.

[ocnblu]

"Hybrid"... a dirty word.

[Drew Dowdell]

na, I like the idea of hybrids. I had an Escalade Hybrid sneak up behind me at the hotel yesterday. Damn thing is quiet.

[ocnblu]

Well then, you're ahead of a wave that might never come. Gas prices are expected to drop throughout the rest of this year, and that can only mean hybrids will sell even worse than they do now.

[67impss]

Damn when oh when will GM figure out the CVT mystery. Can it be that hard? Arctic Cat has been doing this forever!

If they used one in a 3cyl Ecotec Diesel powered Spark RS OH the mileage

[Drew Dowdell]

The next wave of hybrids is going to be more performance oriented, you watch.

Maximum torque @ zero RPM buys you performance gains you can't get from an internal combustion engine.