"Carry-on" engine will power Le Mans racer

NISSAN will this year compete in the famous Le Mans 24-hour race using a revolutionary 1.5-litre, 400bhp engine that’s small enough to qualify as carry-on luggage.

The astonishing new technology produces more power per kilogram of engine weight than the 2014 Formula 1 engines, and what’s more it’s set to lead to road car technology.

And while the engine block is too heavy to take onto a plane as hand luggage, its 50cm height, 40cm length and 20cm width makes it small enough.

The engine will function as part of a new, experimental petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain that Nissan will use in its special ‘Garage 56’ entry at Le Mans.

Called the ZEOD RC, the car doesn’t have to abide by any of the existing rules, but nor can it officially win any of the regulation classes.

Nissan plans to employ powerful electric motors and advanced batteries to power the ZEOD RC for one lap of the iconic La Sarthe circuit, before the petrol engine will take over.

“Our engine team has done a truly remarkable job with the internal combustion engine,” said Darren Cox, Nissan’s Global Motorsport Director.

“We knew the electric component of the Nissan ZEOD RC was certainly going to turn heads at Le Mans but our combined zero emission on-demand electric/petrol powerplant is quite a stunning piece of engineering.

“Nissan will become the first major manufacturer to use a three-cylinder engine in major international motorsport.

“We’re aiming to maintain our position as industry leaders in focusing on downsizing. Lessons learned from the development of the engine will be seen in Nissan road cars of the future.”

By Press Association reporter