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"Top Ten engines of Ward" is one of the most influential lists in the industry, which was founded by Ward's Auto World, an authoritative American magazine, in 1995. However, starting from 2020, "Ward Top Ten engines" has been changed to "Ward Top Ten engines and Power Systems", because pure fuel engines are no longer the only power for current automotive products. pure electric system and plug-in hybrid system have also become a major trend in the development of the automotive industry.

A few days ago, "Ward's Auto World" selected Ward's top ten power systems in 2022, leaving only three pure fuel engines and the rest occupied by pure electric systems and plug-in hybrid systems. It should be noted that because the selected test models are sold in the US market, no matter how well they sell in the Chinese market, it is in vain not to sell in the US market, which is why there is no domestic power on the list.

For example, the Honda 1.5T VTEC in-line four-cylinder engine has a maximum power of 204hp and a peak torque of 260Nm. Its transmission system matches a six-gear manual transmission and is equipped with a limited slip differential. At present, it is mainly carried on Acura Integra A-Spec and Honda Civic si models, which is different from the 1.5T engines of Civic and Accord sold in China. If the Civic, style and other models sold in China can be introduced into the engine, it is expected to have a good performance.

Although most of the models are sold in the US market, we also see an engine sold in China with the same powertrain, which is the Nissan 1.5T VC-Turbo engine, which represents the Nissan Xin Qijun.

Why can Nissan 1.5T VC-Turbo engine be rated as "Top Ten Ward engines and Power Systems"? It is understood that the new generation of Qijun went on sale in Xiangshawan, Inner Mongolia on July 30, with a total of 8 models, with an official guidance price of 18.19-262900 yuan. In terms of power, Xinqijun carries a 1.5T turbocharged three-cylinder engine and uses VC-Turbo variable compression ratio technology to achieve an intelligent stepless variable compression ratio of 81V 14V 1, maximum power 204hp, maximum torque 300Nm, matching CVT continuously variable transmission, and has a high gearratio range of 8.2NEDC fuel consumption is only 5.8L/100km. From the data point of view, compared with the same class of models, the 1.5T VC-Turbo engine carried by Xinqi Jun does have certain advantages, whether in terms of fuel consumption or power performance.

Xin Yu, general manager of Dongfeng Nissan Automobile sales Co., Ltd. has said, "you must compare the test drive, through the real experience, you can feel the cool techs of our engine." Xin Yu stressed that with the increase in power, fuel consumption has been significantly reduced, so that we can well understand why Qijun uses a three-cylinder engine, which is an environmental protection account, with faster dynamic response and better acceleration performance. at the same time, fuel consumption is lower.

Although the technology is excellent, Chinese consumers are so prejudiced about the existence of three-cylinder engine that almost all models with three-cylinder engine are difficult to have development prospects, including the BMW X1 and the new Qijun. As Nissan's former "magic car", the previous generation Qijun has won the joint venture SUV sales crown many times, and has won the global sales crown for two consecutive years in 2016 and 2017, and its sales have basically halved since the 1.5T VC-Turbo engine was replaced. According to the number of risks. Xinqijun sold a total of 12370 vehicles from January to September in 2022, down 85.90% from the same period last year. Qijun's market has been replaced by Honda CRV and Toyota RAV4, and as one of Dongfeng Nissan's four best-selling models, it has seriously affected the market performance of Dongfeng Nissan and even Nissan in China.

In fact, the three-cylinder engine is more powerful and more fuel-efficient, including Buick, BMW, Ford and other brands have had the operation of turning a four-cylinder engine into a three-cylinder engine, but it is well known that the three-cylinder engine is not convinced in China. forcing brands including Buick and Ford to eventually switch back to four-cylinder engines.

Now Nissan has only Xiaoke left in the SUV market, but its competitiveness is obviously not as good as that of Qijun. In order to reverse the decline, it is rumored that Nissan will take at least two years of research and development cycle to switch from three-cylinder engine to four-cylinder engine, but at present, with the rapid development of new energy vehicles, redeveloping internal combustion engines is a huge expense and a difficult choice.

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