Filed under: Hybrid, Solar, Nissan, SEMA Show
SEMA 2008: Nissan Altima Hot Rod Hybrid
Click above for more shots of the Hot Rod Hybrid Nissan Altima
SEMA's tuner crowd and the green culture seem at first to clash. Starting last year, though, and continuing even stronger in 2008 are green performance cars infiltrating the gas-guzzling ways of the typical SEMA show car. A prime example of this green mind meld is the Nissan Altima Hot Rod Hybrid, which started life as a normal, run-of-the-mill Altima hybrid. The standard 2.5-liter four cylinder engine gets extra power from an electric supercharger and what appears to be an upgrade to the car's electric motor. That four banger has also been tuned to run on E85 for extra power. A solar panel on the roof probably doesn't help charge the batteries too much, but it does look cool.
Assembled by Braille Battery to compete in the Hybrid and Electric Class of the Redline Time Attack Series, the car will also compete in the One Lap of America race series. Estimated 1/4 mile performance puts the 440-horsepower Hot Rod Hybrid at 12.9 seconds; nearly 110 miles per hour. Spent gases exit through leaf-shaped exhaust tips. Nice touch.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JamesWB 8:35AM (11/07/2008)
Electric superchargers don't work. It will either drain the batteries meaning the hybrid system won't work as well, or need more power from the alternator causing parasitic drag.
Reply
thannatos 3:22PM (11/08/2008)
thus it being called a supercharger, if it wasn't parasitic it would be a turbo
Chris M 6:09PM (11/08/2008)
The advantage of an electric supercharger is very fast response and much better control over the degree of boost. No "boost dump" valve needed.
Reply
Chris 6:17PM (11/11/2008)
My high school helped put together the body aspects of the car. Proof is on the front left fender. :)
Reply