Hot on the tail of the Honda CR-Z Hybrid, Nissan is preparing their own hybrid coupe to go head-to-head with its rival. The front-wheel-drive, hybrid sports car will be built on a modified "B" platform and will offer an aggressive coupe appearance with a wide stance -- a look popular in Europe, its primary market. To keep weight at a minimum, Nissan will likely utilize aluminum body panels. For improved aerodynamics, the new coupe may be fitted with flat bottom panels (a trick used on the Nissan GT-R). With engine details sketchy, most anticipate the powerplant to be a four-cylinder 1.5-liter HR15DE, coupled to an electric motor and power would be sent to the front wheels through a six-speed DSG transmission. We don't expect to see the new Nissan, or the Honda for that matter, in showrooms before early 2010.
[Source: 7tune]
