Nissan Murano Hybrid Debuts At Auto Shanghai 2015

Nissan has unveiled a hybrid version of its Murano crossover at the on-going Auto Shanghai 2015 show. It’s due to be up for sale in China somewhere in mid-2015, with other markets to follow soon after.

The headlining feature here is the hybrid powertrain and for this, the newly-developed QR25DER engine is called up for duty. It’s a 2.5-litre supercharged four-cylinder petrol unit with electric assist coming from a 20hp motor and a lithium-ion battery pack - specifications that it shares with the Infiniti QX60 Hybrid and the Nissan Pathfinder hybrid. It has a combined output of 250hp and 329Nm of torque which goes through an XTRONIC CVT transmission.

That transmission is part of a larger hybrid system that is referred to as the Nissan Intelligent Dual Clutch System. Those clutches, however, aren't used in the transmission itself. Instead it uses them to modulate power between the internal combustion engine and electric motor, providing the most efficient source to drive to the wheels depending on requirements. This clutch system has an unconventional layout with one clutch positioned between the electric motor and transmission components while the other is placed between the engine and electric motor.

Nissan wasn’t forthcoming on the exact acceleration numbers or fuel economy figures, but the automaker insists that the supercharged 2.5-litre engine provides comparable performance to the 3.5-litre V6 while returning greater fuel economy that is on par with even a 2.0-litre unit. Of course, the lightweight and efficient electric motor will surely help increase those figures further particularly during city driving.