Team of Nissan engineers finish Aragon Baja Rally in X-Trail e-POWER with e-4ORCE

A small team of dedicated engineers from Nissan’s technical centre in Barcelona entered and completed the Baja Aragon Rally in a modified X-Trail e-4ORCE, powered by Nissan’s unique e-POWER system.

The X-Trail successfully finished the rally after two gruelling days (27-28th July) during which it covered more than 310 miles over demanding, unforgiving terrain. The vehicle was modified and prepared by a team of seven engineers from the powertrain function at Nissan Technical Centre Europe – Spain (NTCE-S).

It was driven by Jonatan Gijón, from the chassis dynamics team and Cesar Fernández from the powertrain tuning team – both of whom are experienced and highly trained Nissan test drivers. The X-Trail was entered in the “Open” category, with a view to possible participation in the event next year in the “Stock” category, for vehicles based on standard production specification, including hybrids.

“We are so happy and proud to have achieved our target for entering the Baja Aragon Rally, which was to simply finish,” said Miquel Sasot, Manager, Powertrain Group, NTCE-S.

“The conditions were very demanding – with high temperatures and difficult terrain. The fact that we finished is a great recognition of e-POWER and the e-4ORCE twin motor all-wheel system.

“And it’s also a credit to the passion and commitment of this small group of engineers who worked so hard to bring this crazy idea to reality.” The X-Trail’s unique powertrain, named e-POWER, was unmodified versus the standard production version.

The only modifications for the Baja event consisted of updated cooling capacity, the installation of uprated suspension, the fitment of a roll cage, competition fuel tank, stripped out interior and the installation of mandated safety equipment. The project to modify the X-Trail to participate in the Baja Aragon Rally began in February 2023 as a “passion project” after a small group of engineers based at Nissan’s technical centre studied the X-Trail and its powertrain.

They concluded that without significant modifications to the powertrain, it had the potential to compete in a rally competition. Using their evenings and weekends to make the modifications and with support from the leadership team at NTCE-S, the project gained momentum.

“In the research and development function at Nissan, we place a high value on a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship,” said David Moss, Senior Vice President, Region Research & Development, Nissan’s AMIEO (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe & Oceania) region.

Therefore, when the team presented us with the results of the work they had carried out on the feasibility to modify an e-POWER X-Trail, with its advanced e-4ORCE all-wheel drive system, to compete in a rally, we were fascinated. It didn’t take long to agree that it represented a great platform to demonstrate how robust the powertrain is,” 

The unique configuration of the e-POWER system is the key to its popularity with buyers of both the Qashqai and X-Trail. Unlike traditional hybrid systems, e-POWER only uses an electric motor to drive the wheels, resulting in a smooth, responsive and linear driving sensation. And with an advanced petrol engine on-board used only to generate electricity, there is no need for customers to plug in.

In total more than 150,000 units of e-POWER-equipped vehicles have been sold in Europe since its introduction. The X-Trail combines the e-POWER system with Nissan’s advanced twin-motor e-4ORCE all-wheel drive system which provides traction and confident performance in all conditions.

Designed to work uniquely with electrified powertrains, it monitors the available traction 1000 times per second, constantly adjusting the distribution of power to ensure the X-Trail remains stable in all conditions. “In Nissan, we challenge ourselves and each other to ‘Defy Ordinary’ – where we actively search for ways to go further, be bolder and challenge conventions,” said Coralie Musy, Region Vice President, Brand & Customer Experience.

“The small team in Barcelona who recognised the potential of X-Trail e-POWER with e-4ORCE embodied this spirit. We’re delighted and proud of them and their extraordinary achievement in the Baja Aragon Rally.”