Attention to ecological issues in car manufacturing in general and motor sport in particular is gradually advancing from some type of perverted clownery to rather technically sophisticated solutions which can easily use “we-are-the-future” slogan. This time it is the turn of the sports division of Nissan to stand out.
During the next 24 hours of Le Mans the car named ZEOD RC will make a lap using only electric power. After this lap the electric powerplant will be accompanied by the new DIG-TR engine. The company has kept the specifications of this wonder under the wrap for quite a long time.
Almost toylike 3-cylinder combustion engine weighs only 40 kg and has 50x40x20 cm dimensions! It can be easily carried by an average man! The engineers from the land of the rising sun used every trick in the book and a turbocharger to get 400 hp out of this (dare I say it) toy! As a result the “pocket” 1.5-litre motor has a 10hp/1kg of power to weight ratio leaving the 2014 Formula 1 engine behind!
The wonder car ZEOD RC will take part in the legendary 24 hour endurance race as part of Garage 56 team. Over the last years, the tendency is to reserve peloton places for the cars featuring advanced technologies.
“Nissan will become the first major manufacturer to use a three-cylinder engine in major international motorsport. We’re aiming to maintain our position as industry leaders in focussing on downsizing. Lessons learned from the development of the engine will be seen in Nissan road cars of the future”, Nissan’s Global Motorsport Director Darren Cox said.
