It
features thousands of parts, brand new technology, has taken countless hours of
design, engineering, construction and testing and now Nissan has revealed what
is under the skin of the revolutionary prototype.
No,
Nissan has not taken out all parts for you to see, but has done so using computer
aided design (CAD) technology, Nissan has released a unique image showcasing
the inner workings of the car.
The
Nissan ZEOD RC will fill Garage 56 at this year's Le Mans 24 Hours, an
additional entry reserved for new automotive technology never previously seen
on track.
The
car aims to complete the first all-electric lap of famous 8.5-mile circuit –
running in virtual silence down the Mulsanne straight.
”Our
philosophy at Nissan is to really let fans get a behind-the-scenes look as to
what it takes to develop the unique technology in the Nissan ZEOD RC,"
said Darren Cox, Global Head of Brand, Marketing & Sales, NISMO.
"Most
fans don't get to see what is under the skin of these cars and certainly don't
get the opportunity to see what happens at a crash test. We can't have
everybody in the garage at the race, but through revealing video and images
like this and pushing continual updates via NISMO.TV, the fans will feel closer
than ever before.
"What
we're trying to achieve is actually quite remarkable. Taking a Le Mans
prototype around the full 8.5-mile circuit at Le Mans on nothing but electric
power is one thing, but doing it with a top speed of more than 300km/h and
completing a lap faster than a GT car is incredible.
"We
know it was going to be a very big challenge. We're pushing battery technology
to whole new levels. At Nissan we had a lot of data to refer to from our
leadership role in electric vehicles for the road, but it has been a very
intense development process.
"We've
discovered why nobody has attempted this in the past. It has certainly
presented plenty of technical challenges but that is why we undertake projects
like this. Motorsport compresses the development cycles dramatically; we're
learning new things on a daily basis."
The
Nissan ZEOD RC is powered by two 110kw electric motors that transfer power to
the wheels via the same gearbox that is connected to the internal combustion
engine.
The
car aims to complete a lap of Le Mans on battery power faster than a GT LM
category Le Mans entry. The 400 hp, 40 kg, 1.5 litre, three-cylinder
turbocharged engine will start the race with the electric motors taking over
for a final all-electric lap after each fuel stint.
Source: Nissan