Nissan’s Ellure concept hit the stage at the 2010 LA Auto Show a couple weeks ago. Though not a production vehicle, the Ellure’s elegant and aggressive styling elements are strikingly similar to the automaker’s current crop of readily available vehicles. Additionally, the concept’s supercharged 2.5-liter inline-four and its Xtronic CVT are production bits. However, the concept’s complex front-wheel-drive hybrid system is not available on any of Nissan’s current offerings, but that will change soon.
The Nissan Ellure features a 25-kilowatt electric motor and, though details are limited, Nissan’s front-wheel-drive hybrid system is quite unlike the rear-wheel-drive gas-electric setup featured on the Infiniti M35h. That set-up connects the engine, electric motor and wheels via a single clutch, allowing for maximum thrust. The Ellure’s front-wheel gas-electric system, on the other hand, utilizes a double clutch setup engineered with fuel efficiency as a primary goal. The differences are in the details, but with two flavors of hybrids, Nissan could potentially corner the performance end of the segment and capture additional sales with a Prius-like gas sipper.
Live photos copyright ©2010 Drew Phillips / AOL
[Source: Hybrid Cars]
