The updated Nissan Kicks have just launched in Japan and it is now available with a new and improved e-POWER system. The updated Kicks is largely the same as the facelifted model that was introduced in mid-2020, not only in Japan but also in the United States. The most significant upgrade is the new e-POWER motor that has 5 per cent more power and 7 per cent more torque than the first-generation system.
The e-Power system consists of a 1.2-liter
three-cylinder engine that in first-generation guise, produced 78 hp and 103 Nm of torque and acted as a generator for the 1.57 kWh battery
pack. Additional grunt was provided by an electric motor with 127 hp and 260 Nm. Power from the electric motor has now been upped to 134 hp
while torque has jumped to 280 Nm.
Also, Nissan has increased the size
of the battery pack to 2.06 kWh while fuel efficiency has improved by
approximately 6.4 per cent compared to the previous Kicks. Nissan says that it
has also improved cabin quietness through a reduction in engine-start frequency
at low speeds. The e-Pedal Step is also said to now produce a more relaxing
driving experience, smoothing out deceleration when the accelerator pedal is
released.
A new addition to the line-up is the
availability of a Kicks e-Power 4WD model that features an electric all-wheel
drive system. Nissan has also installed an Intelligent Forward Collision
Warning system as standard on all grades, complete with a radar sensor in the front.
Some minor changes have also been made to
the cabin, including updates to the center console and shift lever. Beige is
also now offered for models with two-tone interiors, as is orange tan. A new
variant dubbed the Style Edition has also been added and comes standard with a
plush brown interior and dark, chrome-look grille.
