Nissan e-Power confirmed for Malaysia, first model launching Q4 2024 – C28 Serena finally coming soon?
It’s been the worst-kept secret in the local automotive scene for a while now, but Nissan has confirmed that its e-Power hybrid technology is finally coming to Malaysia. The company will launch its first such model in the fourth quarter of the year, with more tipped to be introduced later on.
For the uninitiated, Nissan’s e-Power technology works in a broadly similar fashion to Honda’s e:HEV system, whereby the car is driven by an electric motor, with the engine functioning as a generator to charge the battery. One difference is that there is no mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels, so the former can’t drive the latter on its own.
Distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) invited several members of the media to test out the facelifted first-generation Kicks e-Power – the same one that was shown at this year’s Malaysia Autoshow. That car utilises a 129 PS/280 Nm electric motor that’s juiced by a 82 PS/103 Nm HR12DE 1.2 litre naturally-aspirated three-cylinder mill, plus a 2.06 kWh battery. It gets from zero to 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds and delivers a combined fuel consumption figure of 21.7 km per litre.
However, the Kicks is being used simply as a preview for the technology. Nissan hasn’t actually ruled out the Kicks coming here, but it’s unlikely given that it’s at the end of its lifecycle, with a new second-gen model already launched in the US.
Instead, ETCM is likely to be gearing up for the launch of the C28 Serena, which has been caught testing in Malaysia as early as March last year. That car uses a more powerful 163 PS/315 Nm electric motor and a larger 98 PS/123 Nm 1.4 litre HR14DDe petrol engine, plus a 1.77 kWh battery.
GALLERY: Nissan Kicks e-Power in Malaysia
GALLERY: Nissan Serena e-Power at GIIAS 2024
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