Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Hybrid, MPG, Nissan, Japan, USA
Nissan confirms the "Cube," a 37 MPG, hybrid, Scion-look-a-like, is coming to the US
Shiro Nakamura, Nissan's global design director says "the Cube is coming to the U.S. market." The Cube gets 37 MPG and has something called e-4WD, which includes an electric motor that kicks in when you need it. The Cube is already out in Japan (see wacky Japanese commercial below the fold) and there were rumors it might come to the U.S. Now that it's confirmed, I wonder who needs the Scion xB? Well, Nissan has said they don't intend to compete with the Scion xB. To that I say, "Yeah right, whatever dude." Look out for the Cube's U.S. release in late 2008 or, more likely, early 2009.
[Source: Auto Spies, LA Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
drivin98 8:40PM (2/01/2008)
These things have a cool back window. They seemed very popular in Japan.
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A.Brien 10:07PM (2/01/2008)
That look interresting. how much total horsepower,
ice + electric ?
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Lascelles Linton 10:22PM (2/01/2008)
A.Brien, Look for a follow up.
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Mort 11:27PM (2/01/2008)
The Japanese are going back to the drawing board like a mad scientist. Sales may slow down over the next few years due to U.S. recession, but they'll be back stronger than ever with EVs, hybrids, scooters, whatever. Japan gets it!
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Dave 2:24AM (2/02/2008)
"4. The Japanese are going back to the drawing board like a mad scientist."
The Nissan Cube is old news:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Cube
And a hybrid as small and light as this that only gets 37 mpg is pretty poor.
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lionel 5:56AM (2/02/2008)
Here in Europe we can have a better economic car , the peugeot 207 Sw, it has a better design , better design and is so fun to drive! The engine is a 1.6 liter 120 horsepower, but the car is very light: 1400 kilogramms, so the performances are very good:) the MPG rank is 31 MPG and more if you drive in a economic way. Look at it on the web:)
See you later!
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Lascelles Linton 10:53AM (2/02/2008)
Dave, The news is the US release confirmation. The e-4wd is pretty new too. I think US hybrid hackers will love it. I am really looking forward to it too. I was thinking about calling it AutoblogGreen's "car of the year." I am writing more about the system now. E-4WD is interesting because it does not use batteries.
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Sam 12:07PM (2/02/2008)
That commercial reminds me a lot of those ridiculous Liberty commercials in the states...Wonder which came first? Is it plagiarism if you copy something so stupid?
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mattypape, uk 1:40PM (2/02/2008)
I cant be sure but i dont think it is a hybrid in the sense of a hydrid like the prius or anything that uses regenerative energy means ect...
The hybrid simply powers the rear wheels making it 4 wheel drive whilst sapping power from the engine in the form of a generator.
Bieng this type of hyrid reduces efficency. The standard version gets more than 37 im sure, about 39 or someting.
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Kewler 5:06PM (2/02/2008)
Dave, it's mostly from its shape, don't you think?
What an oxymoron that is - to make it a hybrid is fine, but with a totally un-aerodynamic shape as the Cube is, what the hell is Nissan thinking?
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Randy C. 12:21AM (2/03/2008)
Apparently the car has been around for awhile on the Japanese market. They are just now planning to bringing it to the U.S. in the 2008-09 time frame (I hope, I hope, I hope).
My questions about the e-4WD system. Can the rear motor power the car by itself? Rip out the ICE slap some good batteries run it as an EV. If not can a larger motor be put in the rear? And still have an EV. Can the ICE be ripped out and a second motor be put in? Make it an all wheel drive EV :)
I say import the thing and let good ol'e american yankee engineering make it a better car, ala eBox.
And about that commercial. For Japanese TV it is light weight. I spent 3 years stationed in Japan with the U.S. armed forces. I've seen a lot of their commercials, and there are ones that are far more silly.
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Randy C. 12:37AM (2/03/2008)
Oops one more thing I forgot to mention. The e-4WD system really isn't a hybrid in the traditional sense. They are using electricity to transfer torque from the front to the rear. This is a simpler and lighter way to transfer mechanical energy. Instead of having a complex transfer case and a drive shaft running the length if the vehicle, you just have wires. Since no energy is stored for later use there is on increase in fuel economy.
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Azrael4h 7:01AM (2/04/2008)
I love how Autoblog calls this a Scion xB rip-off, when the Cube was the car Toyota ripped off for the xB. What's worse, is a Gran Turismo fan could have probably told you this, or any fan of the JDM automotive scene; or better yet, 10 seconds with that magical site called 'Google'.
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calebe 7:52AM (2/04/2008)
This is a better commercial for Americans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CAOPrEW4uE
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calebe 7:53AM (2/04/2008)
we have a firt gen xb and love it. Hate the gen2. The Cube, if it looks like the current version when it gets here, will be our next car. We love the box on wheels.Tahoe room in a compact car space.
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psarhjinian 8:20AM (2/04/2008)
@lionel
The Peugeot 207 has next to no usable space--it's no more a competitor for the Cube than a Toyota Yaris is. Sure, it's nice to drive, but it's a cramped little thing. If you want to find a European competitor to this, you're talking about the Fiat Multipla.
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macmanic 1:15PM (2/04/2008)
The Cube could be my next vehicle. I want a small AWD van with good MPG - a long hoped for vehicle that has been non-existent in the US until now (or...soon). BTW, 37mpg beats the hell out of most all current US autos on the road. I'll take it and I LOVE the e-4WD idea!
Way to go Nissan and heads up Toyota - your Xb had solid potential until you "Americanized" it by making it just another fat, overweight loser...
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CBXweb 1:18PM (2/04/2008)
2003 called. They are saying that you are late.
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C'est Raoul 2:54PM (2/04/2008)
Wow! That's great!
I am looking for a cheap, efficient (37mpg is not that great), cubic box (lots of room inside), with 4wd. I need excellent traction in the snow from time to time. partial AWD is just perfect.
I'd love to see that in Canada. I am still surprised with the 37mpg. How come such a modern vehicle get such an average mpg? it's just on pair with its class.
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cameron42985 5:41PM (2/07/2008)
Let's make one thing very clear. The Scion Xb is a CUBE look-alike, not the other way around.
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