Nissan “seriously testing in-wheel motors”

NISSAN’S next generation of electric cars due in five or six years promise “handling like on rails” and more flexible interior layouts, according to the man who oversaw design of the Infiniti EMERG-E, senior vice-president and chief creative officer Shiro Nakamura.

Mr Nakamura said Nissan was “really seriously testing” in-wheel electric motors for the new-generation of electric-powered cars that will follow the Leaf, which he said was built on an existing internal combustion engine car platform.

“Not all cars can go in-wheel motor, but we are really seriously testing,” Mr Nakamura said. “The in-wheel motor feels much more direct. And also a very good point is that you can control torque right and left, which is almost like four-wheel steering. If you turn, it is totally different – no understeer and very, very precise handling.”

Mr Nakamura said the system provided “handling like on rails”, which was tempting Nissan to apply it to electric sportscars, as well as small city cars.

Source: Go Auto