Nissan Unveils Tiny 400-hp Engine

Nissan Motor Co. says its dart-shaped ZEOD RC race car entry in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans race will be powered primarily by a piston engine that weighs only 88 lbs but produces an astonishing 400 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque.

The flyweight 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder turbocharged powerplant, dubbed the DIG-T R, measures less than 20 x 16 x 8 inches. It revs to 7,500 rpm.

Nissan notes that, at 10 hp per kilogram, the little engine has a better power-to-weight ratio than the powerplants to be used in this year's Formula One race cars.

The company developed the DIG-T R as part of its continuing demonstration of the performance benefits of improving aerodynamics and reducing vehicle weight.

The ZEOD RC will occupy "garage 56" at Le Mans, an entry designation for advanced technologies. The car will be equipped to make its first lap of each one-hour stint under electric power before switching to the main DIG-T R engine.