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2017 Nissan Note e-Power Nismo Is Green and Hot at the Same Time

Very few people care about the Nissan Note, but it's still popular in Japan, sort of like their version of the Golf, but smaller. And that means it's the place to check if you want to see something awesome or awkward.
2017 Nissan Note e-Power Nismo Combines Begin Green and Hot 5 photos
Photo: YouTube screenshot
We're not going to decide which category this car falls into, but it's safe to say you won't see one in US showrooms. So the Versa Note, as we call it in America, received a mid-life facelift. It looked fine before, but now it has the same grille as the Rogue, which strokes Nissan's ego.

They also added metallic orange to the paint selection, but you can also have pearl pink (check the second video below). And instead of just making a hot hatch like everybody else, Nissan shows its nonaggressive side by sticking a body kit on a hybrid.

The Nismo body kit is similar to the one they had before. In fact, I think the side skirts have stayed the same. But the front is new. Instead of being allowed to make their own grille Nismo had to install mesh wherever they could. But they fought back by enlarging the side air intakes. Two-tone wheels, red accents, and other features have also been kept from the 2015 and 2016 model year. This could also be the only car in production that has a chrome exhaust tip for the range extender motor.

However, there's a blue stripe around the front emblem, and that should tell you something about what's going on under the good. Something, not everything, as there hasn't been a car like this in a while.

It's like the BMW i3 REX without the plug. The onboard 1.2-liter HR12DE three-cylinder engine developing 79 horsepower is only there to make electricity for the 109 hp, 254 Nm electric motor to run on. Nissan says the advantages of this system is instant torque delivery from zero revs without worrying about the range.

The battery that stores the juice is much smaller, only about 1/20th the size of the Nissan Leaf's. The system is relatively efficient, being capable of running the car for 37.2 kilometers using only one liter of fuel. That's 2.6 l/100km.

But you don't have to get this engine if you don't like it. The Japanese Note is available with the same 1.2-liter mill from the hybrid, but powering the wheels, or one that has forced induction and packs 98 PS.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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