Here's the link I saw:
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot ... ty_file__1
and a section of the article:
Our Japanese Cube is powered by a 95-hp, 1.4-liter inline four-cylinder driving the front wheels. Supplemental traction is provided by an electric motor on the rear wheels (called e-4WD by Nissan) that?s powered by an engine-driven generator. Since the device sucks power from the engine, it doesn?t help acceleration. There?s an optional 107-hp, 1.5-liter engine, but we doubt the extra 12 horses would do much to rejuvenate the lethargic Cube. Around town, the Cube can keep up with the flow of traffic, but to get up to highway speeds it?s almost Smart-like in its torpor, although the Cube?s extra size makes overtaking howling semis less nerve-racking.
it was talking about the japanese model though, and the US model doesn't seem to have that, oops, my bad
http://www.edmunds.com/nissan/cube/2010/review.html