Witchcraft Is The Only Way To Explain Nissan's Incredible 400hp 1.5-Litre 3-Pot Engine

Nissan's done the unthinkable by producing a three-cylinder, 1.5-litre engine with as much power as a 5.0-litre V8 E39 M5

Alex Kersten

18 May 2015

Nissan-ZEOD-Engine-Large CT

Take a good look at the engine above, because this, ladies and gents, is one hell of a machine. Nissan's revolutionary DiG-T petrol engine displaces just 1.5 litres from three cylinders, weighs 40kg (88 pounds) and produces the same power figure as a 5.0-litre, E39 M5: that's right, from 1.5 litres, Nissan's squeezed 400hp.

Nissan's engine pictured with Nismo President, Shoichi Miyatani

The car this incredible little engine will power is Nissan's unique ZEOD (meaning Zero Emissions on Demand) RC Le Mans racer, which will become the first car to complete a lap of the Circuit de la Sarthe (8.47 miles) in electric mode only. The direct injection and downsized petrol engine (500mm tall, 400mm long, 200mm wide) will then power the ZEOD while the race car's battery (which drives twin electric motors) is replenished using a regenerative braking system you'd find in a Nissan Leaf Nismo RC.

The ZEOD's petrol engine will power the car up to speeds of around 185mph and is driven through a five-speed gearbox. The engine also produces 280lb/ft torque and revs to 7500rpm.

Darren Cox, Nissan’s Global Motorsport Director said:

“Our aim is to set new standards in efficiency in regards to every aspect of the car – power train, aerodynamics and handling. For the power train we have worked closely with the team at Total to not only reduce friction inside the engine, but within all components of the power train.