Nissan recently introduced the Note Aura in Japan, a compact series-hybrid based on the third-generation Note that first made its debut last November. So far, so good – but for some reason unbeknownst to us, Nissan decided that the Note Aura – a city car, let us remind you – needed a Nismo treatment.
Dubbed a “swift electrified city racer” by Nissan, the Note Aura Nismo gains several new sporty design elements, inspired by the marque’s Formula E race car. These touches include new bumpers with bright red splitters, wide-rim 17-inch aluminium wheels, and a new roof spoiler that supposedly offers “optimised aerodynamic downforce” honed through motor racing, improving stability at high speeds.
Tying it all up on the exterior are the red-painted wing mirror covers, alongside a black racing stripe on the bonnet. Buyers can choose from a selection of five different exterior colour variations, four of them two-tone combinations.
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Inside, the Nissan Note Aura Nismo gets a mixture of dark colours and red accents that supposedly “evoke focus and excitement for driving”. The sportier city hybrid also gets a set of sport seats for the front passengers, with a fabric/synthetic leather combination upholstery, embroidered with the Nismo logo on the seat backs.
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As for mechanical upgrades, Nissan says that the Note Aura Nismo gets an upgraded “specialised suspension” and “optimised body rigidity distribution”, but stopped short on what those words actually mean on the technical front.
And as we’ve alluded to in the title, the Nismo city car doesn’t actually gain any improvements in terms of the power. Underneath the bonnet is still Nissan’s e-Power series hybrid powertrain, featuring a small 1.2 litre three-cylinder petrol engine to charge the batteries, while an electric motor pushes 100 kW (134 hp) and 300 Nm to the front wheels.
The Nissan Note Aura Nismo does however get a new Nismo drive mode, which promises a more powerful response and increased acceleration, which Nissan says will “live up to the expectations of Nismo fans and genuine lovers of driving”.
As you might have gathered, the Nissan Note Aura Nismo will only be available for the Japanese market. Priced at JPY2,869,900 (~RM111k), the spruced-up Note Aura is set to go on sale in the Autumn, though the regular variants (including an all-wheel drive model) is available now.
GALLERY
