The Nissan Leaf in Japan has a spicy Nismo variant, and sorry to burst your bubble, this is not a spicy souped-up performance EV, though it does look the part.
Part of the upgrades bestowed on the Leaf Nismo include the performance marque’s exclusive springs, stabilisers and selected member bushes, which are said to enhance the overall rigidity of the suspension and improve steering response.
Furthermore, owners can benefit on their mountain road runs from swing valve-equipped shock absorbers that help reduce initial body roll while allowing the suspension to respond smoothly to changing road surfaces.
To keep everything on the road, the Nissan Leaf Nismo is equipped with sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 5 rubber that is paired with lightweight, highly rigid 19-inch alloy wheels from Enkei.
Even the drive modes are tweaked, with Nissan saying the Standard, Eco, and Sport modes all have their bespoke Nismo tuning. Sport mode has been enhanced to deliver powerful, linear acceleration unique to an electric motor vehicle and is designated as ‘NISMO Mode’. Standard and Eco modes have also been optimised to complement the NISMO-tuned chassis to offer a more integrated driving feel.
It even has dedicated control paddles to adjust the regenerative braking, which Nissan says is the first EV NISMO to feature such controls where deceleration force is reduced at Level one and increased at Levels two through four compared with the base model, delivering a more engaging and rewarding driving experience.
RELATED: The original Alphard rival is back – all-new Nissan Elgrand launches in Japan
That is pretty much the mechanical enhancements the Nissan Leaf Nismo gets, with the rest being pure cosmetics.
Underneath, the powertrain options remain standard. The base Nissan Leaf Nismo features a 177 hp (130 kW) and 345 Nm traction motor paired with a 52 kWh battery, enabling a range of 469 km (WLTC). Meanwhile, the beefier variant steps up to a 217 hp (160 kW) and 355 Nm motor paired with a larger 75 kWh battery, which increases the range to 702 km (WLTC).
Cosmetic upgrades include a new front bumper with corner finishers and functional air vents, while dedicated lower door finishers give the Leaf Nismo a lower stance and help to provide additional downforce without increasing drag.
The exterior is accented with an ‘Arterial Magma’ red accent colour, while the side mirrors are finished in gloss black with red accents. In total, six exterior colours are available for the Nissan Leaf Nismo, including two ‘unique variations’ of the Nismo Stealth Grey colour, Nissan says.
Inside, you’ll find a black interior with Nismo elements on the gauge cluster and interior trimmings. The steering wheel is upholstered in a synthetic leather material that is claimed to be similar to Nappa leather, while front occupants are seated in NISMO-exclusive tuned Recaro sport seats.
ALSO READ: Could this mysterious test mule be the upcoming Toyota MR2?
GALLERY
