The Nissan Juke line-up is to gain a hybrid powertrain later this year, bringing increased power and lower fuel consumption.

The Juke’s new hybrid powertrain has been engineered for responsive performance combined with reduced emissions/consumption

The new powertrain draws on Nissan’s Alliance with Renault and is said to deliver some 25% more power than the current petrol engine but with an expected 20% reduction in fuel consumption.

It teams up a new-generation 94hp 1.6-litre petrol engine and a 49hp electric motor, both supplied by Nissan, with a 15kW high-voltage starter/generator, gearbox and a 1.2kWh water-cooled battery from Renault. It’s married up with a clutchless multi-mode gearbox, which provides four ‘ICE’ gears and two ‘EV’ gears.

Pre-homologation figures indicate a combined fuel economy figure of 54mpg and CO2 emissions of 118g/km.

The powertrain offers series, parallel and series-parallel operation. It will start up in electric mode every time and during testing, engineers have achieved up to 80% of an urban drive in pure EV mode, with short hybrid phases to recharge the battery before returning to EV mode. The Juke Hybrid can also reach speeds up to 55kph/34mph in pure EV mode.

The system will automatically maximise EV usage and drivers can also use a dedicated EV mode switch for when they don’t want the engine running, such as residential areas, around built-up areas like schools, car parks and drive-throughs, and in traffic jams – battery state of charge permitting.

When slowing down, the electric motor will act as a generator and capture kinetic energy, turning it into electricity to be stored in the hybrid propulsion battery.

The Juke Hybrid also comes with a drive mode selector, allowing the driver to select from Eco, Normal and Sport modes.

As with the Leaf pure EV, the Juke Hybrid will be equipped with Nissan’s e-Pedal step system, which, when activated, enables drivers to control speed and deceleration using the accelerator pedal, although foot braking will be needed for a complete stop.

Design changes mark the Juke Hybrid out and include Hybrid badges on the front doors and the tailgate, a revised grille and reprofiled rear spoiler. It also gets the new Nissan brand logo on the front grille and black gloss detailing in keeping with other electrified Nissan models.

Boot space is 354 litres, down by 68 litres compared to the petrol version, due to the battery pack. With rear seats folded, load space is 1,237 litres, said to be class-leading, while rear knee room remains unchanged at 553mm.

“Nissan’s electrified product strategy is gaining momentum and the Juke Hybrid which will join the line-up later this year will represent another milestone on our strategic ambition to have fully-electrified range by 2023,” said Guillaume Cartier, chairperson, Nissan AMIEO region.