Nissan Considering an Expanded Hybrid Lineup, But After 2010 EV Launch
By John O'Dell July 17, 2009It has seemed, and sounded, for nearly a year that Nissan Motor Co. was intent on bypassing conventional and plug-in hybrids and jumping straight into the electric vehicle market. But the automaker says it hasn't abandoned hybrids.
Although Nissan will introduce an EV in the U.S. and Japan next year, and plans to have a global model or models ready to launch in 2012, it also is looking at expanding its hybrid lineup beyond the single model it now offers - the Altima hybrid sedan sold only in seven states in the U.S.
Altima Hybrid soon to lose it's "only child" status.
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The company would use its previously announced proprietary hybrid system for the new models, replacing the system it licensed from Toyota Motor Co. for the Altima.
A spokesman for the company in Japan told Bloomberg News this morning that Nissan is "studying possibilities to put our hybrid system in other models" in addition to the Altima and a previously announced Japanese-market luxury hybrid, likely to be the Fuga - that'd be an Infiiti M here- set to launch in 2010.
Spokesman Sadayuki Hamaguchi said that no decision's been made on further models to hybridize, but the Nikkei business news - citing unnamed sources - reported today that Nissan will launch its new hybrids in 2011, starting with a Japanese-market minivan.
Nissan's Altima Hybrid uses technology licensed from Toyota, but Nissan officials said way back in 2007, when they announced their EV, that the company intends to have its own, internally-developed hybrid system ready to go by next year.
So a 2011 launch of the first Nissan vehicle(s) to use the new proprietary hybrid system is certainly possible.
John O'Dell, Senior Editor
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Where I live is pretty far from where Altima Hybrids are sold, but I admit, I have seen at least 5in the last week. They stand out because they're the only Altima with a whip antenna ala Jetta and Corolla at the top.
Hopefully, Nissan can beat the Current Atima Hybrid's MPG. As it is now, its slightly better than the Camry. But, along came Fusion Hybrid and blew BOTH out of the water.
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