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Nissan revolution: could new petrol engine make diesel obsolete? Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co has come up with a new type of gasoline engine it says may make some of today's advanced diesel engines obsolete. The new engine uses variable compression technology, which Nissan engineers say allows it at any given moment to choose an optimal compression ratio for combustion - a key factor in the trade-off between power and efficiency in all gasoline-fuelled engines. Advertisements The technology gives the new engine the performance of turbo-charged gasoline engines while matching the power and fuel economy of today's diesel and hybrid powertrains - a level of performance and efficiency the conventional gasoline engine has so far struggled to achieve. The potential breakthrough technology comes at a time when diesel engine technology has been tarnished by Volkswagen's emissions cheating scandal. The German automaker admitted last year to using secret software to cheat exhaust emissions tests on its diesel cars, affecting millions of vehicles worldwide, and prompting the departure of the company's CEO and other executives. "Diesel engine is a hot topic globally. We believe this new engine of ours is an ultimate gasoline engine that could over time replace the (advanced) diesel engine of today," Kinichi Tanuma, a senior Nissan engineer who leads product development for the premium Infiniti brand, told reporters at a pre-launch briefing last month. "Everyone's been working on variable compression and other technologies to significantly improve gasoline engine fuel economy... at least for the last 20 years or so," said James Chao, Asia-Pacific managing director at consultant IHS. "Increasing the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines is critical to automakers. Not all consumers will accept a battery electric vehicle solution. But significant challenges remain, such as increased complexity and cost, as well as potential vibration issues." TO INFINITI ...AND BEYOND The new Variable Compression-Turbo (VC-T) powertrain, expected to be officially unveiled at next month's Paris motor show, will initially be showcased in an Infiniti car to be unveiled next year, Nissan engineers said, without elaborating. Eventually, it's expected to be used in Nissan cars and possibly by its alliance partner Renault. The turbo-charged, 2-liter, four-cylinder VC-T engine averages 27 percent better fuel economy than the 3.5-liter V6 engine it replaces, with comparable power and torque. Nissan says the new engine matches the diesel engine in torque - the amount of thrust that helps determine the car's acceleration. The engine is also cheaper than today's advanced turbo-charged diesel engines, Nissan engineers said at the briefing at the company's technical and design center in Atsugi, south of Tokyo. They said it should also meet nitrogen oxide (NOx) and other emissions rules in certain markets without requiring costly treatment systems. OPTIMAL RATIO The compression ratio measures how much the air-fuel mix is reduced, or compressed, in the gasoline engine's cylinders before it's ignited and produces energy. The higher the ratio, the more efficiently the engine works, producing better fuel economy and, with the addition of a turbo-charger, more power. Traditionally, design engineers had to fix a gasoline engine's combustion compression ratio, essentially deciding whether to go for power or economy. Nissan says the new VC-T engine can choose an optimal compression ratio variably between 8:1 and 14:1. That compares with mainstream production gasoline engines that run at compression ratios of 8:1 to 10:1. Exotic sports cars and racing cars run at 12:1 or more. "We think the VC-T engine could replace or become an alternative to some of today's advanced diesel engines," Tanuma said, noting the new engine's fuel economy and performance could be significantly boosted by coupling it to a gasoline-electric hybrid system, an option Nissan said it's considering.

Watch out Civic and Corolla, the Nissan Sentra is even better for 2027. Published Aug 19, 2026, 12:40 PM EDT Chris Bruce has worked in the automotive industry since 2011 and has written thousands of stories about cars, motorsports, and motorcycles in that time. He has written for Autoblog, Autoviva, CarFax, Edmunds, Hagerty, InsideEVs, Motor1, and New Roads. He has also hosted hundreds of podcast episodes. As hobbies, Bruce enjoys building plastic models of robots and cars. He also enjoys video games, particularly the 16-bit variety. His dog keeps him busy. With the Versa's demise, the Nissan Sentra becomes the brand's entry-level traditional car and its least expensive offering. The company is now announcing minor revisions for the 2027 model year, including some small mechanical changes to the compact sedan and a bit more style. But the impact could be much larger in the compact segment, where the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic are tough competition for the Sentra. Small improvements inside, outside, and underneath. Nissan is retuning the Sentra's CVT for the 2027 model, and the company claims the unit has a "more refined, natural driving feel." The automaker reports that there's more linear acceleration and better throttle response in response to customer feedback. The other big change for the 2027 Sentra is the addition of a Midnight Edition version to the lineup. Like similar variants on other Nissans, this model has a dark-trimmed body with black badges, black window trim, 18-inch wheels in black, and a Super Black two-tone roof. The Midnight Edition is a $650 option on top of the SR trim at $24,990 (plus a $1,245 destination fee). The Midnight Edition is based on the sporty-looking SR trim level, so it comes with a competitive array of standard features. The exterior includes a body kit with side sill extensions, a small rear spoiler, and chrome exhaust trim. There is also a dark chrome grille and heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals. Inside, it has "sport cloth" upholstery and faux leather on the steering wheel. A 12.3-inch infotainment display and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster give drivers a high-tech cabin. It's a tiny change, but Nissan is also offering a new Qi2 wireless device charger on the 2027 Sentra. The optional tech provides faster charging and compatibility with more devices. All Sentras come with the same powertrain. A naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder makes 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. A CVT sends the power to the front wheels. Most trims get 30 miles per gallon city, 38 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined, but the SR offers 29 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 32 mpg combined. But how much will all this cost? 2026 Nissan Sentra for Sale near New York, NY 2027 Nissan Sentra Pricing: A little more or even A little less. Nissan isn't changing the Sentra's price very much for the new model year. The base cost is up just 1% from the 2026 version. Meanwhile, the SR is a whole $10 cheaper, leaving one more Alexander Hamilton in your wallet. The range-topping SL costs the same as last year. | Nissan Sentra Pricing | | Trim Level | 2027 Nissan Sentra (excluding $1,245 destination) | 2026 Nissan Sentra (excluding $1,245 destination) | Price Change | | S | $22,890 | $22,600 | $290 | | SV | $23,590 | $23,370 | $220 | | SR | $24,990 | $25,000 | -$10 | | SL | $27,990 | $27,990 | $0 | The 2027 Sentra is the least expensive new Nissan for this model year after factoring in the destination fee. The 2027 Kicks starts at $22,790, but it has a $1,545 destination fee, for a total of $24,335. In comparison, the net cost of the Sentra is $24,135 - $200 less than the little crossover. In terms of the Sentra's primary competitors, both of them are more expensive. The 2027 Toyota Corolla LE starts at $23,325 (plus a $1,295 destination fee). Honda hasn't announced 2027 Civic pricing yet, but the 2026 model started at $24,695 (plus a $1,195 destination fee). CarBuzz insight - why this matters: The Sentra entered its ninth generation for the 2026 model year, so it's not very surprising that there aren't significant alterations for the 2027 model. The revised drivetrain was already smoother than the previous model's, so this year's changes should make the setup even better. The Midnight Edition isn't going to get most people excited, but the dark look might entice a few SR buyers to spend the extra $650 for additional black trim. It's a sharp-looking sedan inside and out, and with a price that undercuts the competition, the Sentra is a very compelling alternative to the Civic and Corolla in the compact segment.

2027 Nissan Murano drops the base SV trim, but the SL trim gets a price cut. Caleb Miller Wed, August 19, 2026 at 11:29 AM PDT * Nissan is reworking the Murano lineup for 2027, dropping the base SV trim and adding a new Dark Armor variant (shown here). * With the SV gone, the price required to get a Murano has climbed by $2320 to $45,535. * The Murano SL is now $2770 less than last year, but it loses its panoramic sunroof, 10-speaker Bose stereo system, and in-dash navigation for 2027. Before Nissan overhauled the Murano for the 2025 model year, the mid-size two-row SUV had mostly been forgotten, with sales dwindling to just 19,316 units in 2024. But the redesign, which brought a bold, luxurious look, saw sales skyrocket to 42,747 units in 2025. Now, for the 2027 model year, Nissan is reworking the Murano lineup, dropping the base SV trim and slashing the price of the SL trim. For the 2026 model year, the Murano started at $43,215 in base SV form. Now, the SV trim has been eliminated, raising the Murano's starting price. The Murano SL now becomes the entry-level variant, but the price has been slashed to account for the disappearance of the Murano SV. The loss of the SV, which had been the only trim to feature a front-wheel-drive layout, also means that all Muranos are now all-wheel drive. The 2027 Murano SL will start at $45,535, which is $2770 less than last year. While that is a substantial cut, it still means the base price for a Murano has risen by $2320. The price reduction also comes with a reduction in the content the SL trim offers. The SL no longer offers a panoramic sunroof, the 10-speaker Bose stereo system, and in-dash navigation. For 2027, the Murano also adds a new Dark Armor trim, starting at $48,535. The Dark Armor model brings gloss-black 21-inch wheels and a sportier look for the bumpers and side skirts. Nissan also fits gloss-black Nissan badges and Dark Armor badges on the front door panels. The only interior upholstery color is called Graphite, and it can be paired with six exterior color options: Gun Metallic, Super Black, Scarlet Ember, Everest White, Boulder Gray with a Super Black roof, and Everest White with a Super Black roof. At the top of the range, the Murano Platinum will require $51,335 for 2027, down by $10 versus last year. Nissan didn't specify when the new Murano will start reaching dealerships, but Incite D expect it to go on sale sometime this fall.