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Nissan Engineers' Modified X-Trail E-POWER Conquers Baja Aragon Rally
A team of engineers from Nissan's technical centre in Barcelona successfully completed the Baja Aragon Rally with a modified X-Trail e-4ORCE. The vehicle, powered by Nissan’s e-POWER system, covered over 310 miles of challenging terrain during the two-day event held on 27-28 July.
The project began in February 2023 as a "passion project" by a small group of engineers at Nissan’s technical centre. They believed the X-Trail's powertrain could compete in a rally without significant modifications. Using their free time, they made necessary adjustments with support from NTCE-S leadership.
Despite the demanding conditions, the X-Trail finished the rally, showcasing the robustness of its e-POWER system. The vehicle's powertrain remained unmodified from the standard production version. Modifications included enhanced cooling capacity, upgraded suspension, a roll cage, competition fuel tank, stripped-out interior, and mandated safety equipment.
Jonatan Gijón from the chassis dynamics team and Cesar Fernández from the powertrain tuning team drove the X-Trail. Both are experienced Nissan test drivers. The vehicle was entered in the "Open" category but may participate in next year's "Stock" category for standard production vehicles.
Miquel Sasot, Manager of Powertrain Group at NTCE-S, expressed pride in their achievement: "We are so happy and proud to have achieved our target for entering the Baja Aragon Rally, which was to simply finish. The conditions were very demanding – with high temperatures and difficult terrain. The fact that we finished is a great recognition of e-POWER and the e-4ORCE twin motor all-wheel system. And it’s also a credit to the passion and commitment of this small group of engineers who worked so hard to bring this crazy idea to reality."
The unique configuration of Nissan’s e-POWER system drives its popularity among buyers of both Qashqai and X-Trail models. Unlike traditional hybrids, e-POWER uses an electric motor to drive wheels while an onboard petrol engine generates electricity, eliminating the need for plugging in.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
David Moss, Senior Vice President at Nissan’s AMIEO region, highlighted their innovative spirit: "In the research and development function at Nissan, we place a high value on a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship. Therefore, when the team presented us with the results of the work they had carried out on the feasibility to modify an e-POWER X-Trail, with its advanced e-4ORCE all-wheel drive system, to compete in a rally, we were fascinated. It didn’t take long to agree that it represented a great platform to demonstrate how robust the powertrain is."
Nissan has sold over 150,000 units of e-POWER-equipped vehicles in Europe since its introduction. The X-Trail combines this system with Nissan’s advanced twin-motor e-4ORCE all-wheel drive system for optimal traction and performance under various conditions.
Defying Ordinary
Coralie Musy, Region Vice President for Brand & Customer Experience at Nissan, praised their efforts: "In Nissan, we challenge ourselves and each other to ‘Defy Ordinary’ – where we actively search for ways to go further, be bolder and challenge conventions. The small team in Barcelona who recognised the potential of X-Trail e-POWER with e-4ORCE embodied this spirit. We’re delighted and proud of them and their extraordinary achievement in the Baja Aragon Rally."
The success at Baja Aragon demonstrates both engineering prowess and dedication within Nissan’s teams. Their innovative approach highlights how standard production vehicles can perform under extreme conditions without extensive modifications.
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