It’s finally confirmed – after being teased from as early as 2022 in a video, Edaran Tan Chong Motor has now announced on its social media pages that the Nissan Kicks e-Power will be launched in Malaysia in December 2024.
An exact date for the launch has not been provided, although the 2024 Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS 2024) is also happening in the same month from 5-11 December. If we’re into gambling, we’d wager that the launch will be happening right at the motor show…
Even though the second-generation Nissan Kicks has already been unveiled in the United States earlier this year, we would instead be getting the first-generation model in facelifted form here in Malaysia, the same car that was first previewed at the Malaysia Autoshow earlier this year.
It might not look as fancy or modern as the second-generation Nissan Kicks, but the first-generation model does have something that the all-new one doesn’t yet – the more technologically advanced e-Power powertrain underneath the bonnet.
Nissan’s e-Power technology is a series hybrid powertrain, which on the Kicks, consists of a 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated inline-three petrol engine, a 2.06 kWh battery, and two electric motor – one serving as a generator, and the other to drive the front wheels.
Because it is a series hybrid system, the engine does not have any mechanical linkage to the wheels. Instead, the engine serves solely as a generator, supplying power to either the battery for storage, or straight to the motors (in addition to the battery’s output) whenever more power is needed.
READ MORE: A hybrid that feels more like an EV? Nissan’s e-Power technology explained
Because the engine does not need to work in tandem with vehicle speed, Nissan says it is able to run in its most efficient state for the majority of driving situations, ensuring optimal fuel efficiency while reducing tailpipe emissions. Nissan claims a combined fuel consumption of 4.6 L/100km (21.7 km/L) on the Kicks e-Power.
A lower engine speed also means lower engine noise within the cabin, even when you need to deploy all 129 hp and 280 Nm from the traction motor. The battery is charged solely via the engine, too, so there’s no need to worry about charging.
Set to make its official debut in December 2024, the Nissan Kicks e-Power will be joining an increasingly crowded hybrid SUV segment here in Malaysia, with competitors including the Honda HR-V e:HEV and Corolla Cross Hybrid.
Aside from the Kicks, the all-new C28-generation Nissan Serena is also offered with an e-Power powertrain. The MPV made its ASEAN debut in Indonesia earlier this year, and given that its promotional video was shot here in Malaysia, we’re also expecting it to make its way onto our shores very, very soon.
