Nissan Plans New Small Van, Hybrid Light Commercial Vehicle

26 September 2008

At the 62nd International Commercial Vehicle show in Hanover, Nissan said that it will introduce an all-new small van globally in 2009. Part of a plan to introduce 13 all new products during its GT 2012 mid-term business plan period, the vehicle, inspired by the NV200 Concept presented at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007, will debut in Japan in spring 2009, and then in Europe, as well as in several other markets, in the second half of 2009.

Nissan also showed its on-going work on a hybrid light commercial vehicle—which it says it will introduce by the end of 2012, with the Hybrid Cabstar prototype, shown earlier at the 61st International Commercial Vehicle show in 2006. (Earlier post.)

The Cabstar’s Hybrid powertrain is a single clutch system that consists of the existing 3.0-liter (ZD30) diesel unit, developing 110 kW (148 hp), and inverter, plus the corresponding control units. The prototype uses a lithium-ion battery pack.

Nissan estimates that the Cabstar Hybrid can potentially achieve a 30 per cent reduction in fuel consumption, depending on driving style.