Nissan’s Yokohama Plant has produced its 40-millionth engine this yr, the identical yr the automaker celebrates its ninetieth anniversary. The plant opened two years after the corporate was based, starting operations in 1935. Since then, the manufacturing unit has produced some groundbreaking engines.
In 1979, the manufacturing unit started making the L20ET, the nation’s first turbocharged engine for a passenger automobile that powered the Fairlady Z and different mannequin traces. 4 years later, in 1983, Japan’s first mass-produced V6 started rolling off the meeting line. In 2007, staff began to construct the corporate’s VC Turbo engines with variable compression ratio expertise.
11 Photographs
It took till 1976 earlier than the manufacturing unit made 10 million engines. Ten years later, it had produced 20 million and crossed the 30-millionth milestone in 1997.
Immediately, the plant additionally builds Nissan’s VR38DETT engine for the GT-R, which Nissan up to date for the 2024 mannequin yr. The corporate gave the supercar refreshed styling, with the twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 565 horsepower in the usual mannequin.
The GT-R Nismo delivers 600 hp and includes a host of upgrades like carbon fiber, higher brakes, and different tweaks as Nissan prices $100,000 extra for the Nismo in comparison with the entry-level GT-R Premium spec that begins at $122,885 (value contains the $1,895 vacation spot cost). The GT-R T-Spec presents a number of the Nismo upgrades however begins at a way more inexpensive $142,885.
Whereas the VR38DETT engine is a mighty energy plant, the Yokohama manufacturing unit is already centered on the trade’s electrified future. Nissan started constructing electrical motors on the facility in 2010 with the launch of the Leaf. Whereas studies point out Nissan is discontinuing the mannequin, the automaker has different EVs in manufacturing, just like the Ariya, and in growth.
Earlier this yr, the automaker up to date its electrification plan from 2021, growing the variety of electrified and absolutely electrical automobiles it plans to supply by 2030. By the last decade’s finish, Nissan may have 19 new EVs and 27 new electrified ones in its lineup.
89 Photographs
In 2022, electrical motors accounted for about 40 % of Yokohama Plant’s whole manufacturing, however that is not all of the manufacturing unit will produce. Beginning subsequent yr, Nissan will open a pilot line within the plant to develop solid-state batteries, with the purpose to start mass-producing them by the center of 2028. They may energy fashions from Renault and Mitsubishi because the alliance plans to develop 35 new EVs collectively.
Ninety % of the brand new fashions will experience on 5 widespread platforms masking completely different market segments. We’ll see the fruits of this effort as quickly as subsequent yr with the launch of the Nissan Micra alternative. The platform can even underpin the Renault R5.
