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marzo 23, 2021 - Nissan

Meet the engineer who’s bringing GT-R exhilaration to Nissan’s electrified vehicles

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Nissan’s e-POWER technology blends the driving feeling of Nissan’s R35 GT-R with the instant, smooth acceleration of an electric motor

Naoki Nakada is definitely a car lover. As one of Nissan’s chief powertrain engineers, he’s been in charge of developing some of the brand’s most iconic engines, including the revered VR38DETT engine which provides the muscle and pin-to-your-seat acceleration of the R35 GT-R. However, it’s not just the roar of combustion engines at wide open throttle that has fascinated Nakada. He also developed the quiet, mild-mannered powertrain for Nissan’s all-electric LEAF, the world’s first mass market 100% electric vehicle. Having worked on both ends of the spectrum, his next project was to combine the best of both powertrains - the speed and power of a sports car and the torque-on-demand nature of an EV – welcoming Nissan’s e-POWER technology.

For fans of high-performance cars, the Nissan GT-R has always had legendary status, thanks to its athletic handling and exceptional speed.

“When we were developing the R35 GT-R, we were not just pursuing speed, but also that satisfying acceleration feeling,” said Nakada “For GT-R drivers, there’s little that compares to the amazing feeling of putting it through its paces.”

After developing the all-electric powertrain for the Nissan LEAF, however, he was determined to bring his GT-R experience to the next generation of electrified vehicles.

“If we want to create a carbon neutral society, we have to promote electric vehicles,” stated Nakada “An electric vehicle from Nissan should not only be environmentally friendly but also be fun and exciting to drive."

A powertrain that takes the hurdles of e-mobility

The transition from traditional to fully electric mobility, however, won’t happen overnight. Some have hesitations toward EV ownership, such as driving range on a single charge, local and regional charging infrastructure, and cost. Realizing this, Nakada set out to ease customer concerns by developing an electrified powertrain that combines the thrilling performance of an electric motor with the ease of ownership a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle offers. This is the origin of Nissan’s e-POWER technology.

Further information in the press release to download