Nissan has officially launched the LEAF NISMO in Japan, featuring signature sporty red accents and a retuned suspension system that’s said to deliver sharper handling.
The Nissan LEAF NISMO’s exterior design looks sportier compared to the standard LEAF. Integrated with NISMO trims, the LEAF electric vehicle (EV) transformed into a more performance-oriented-looking vehicle. The front has a more striking demeanor due to the revamped bumper that comes with the signature NISMO red accents. Nissan said that it also has corner finishers with air-guide functionality, which enhances airflow by directing it along the side of the vehicle, reducing drag.
The Japanese car brand added that the LEAF NISMO has lower door finishers that help the vehicle’s low center of gravity. The side also has red accents, adding style points to the overall finish of the vehicle. Nissan shared that the LEAF NISMO sits on a set of 19-inch aluminum wheels manufactured by Enkei and wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 5 sports tires, which are said to offer both higher grip and better control.
The rear, on the other hand, is equipped with a dedicated rear bumper incorporating a boat-hull-shaped under spoiler and an extended ducktail rear spoiler. These design details are said to help reduce drag and increase the LEAF NISMO’s downforce. As such, Nissan claims that the LEAF NISMO has additional downforce without increasing aerodynamic drag compared with the standard version.
Inside, it comes with red trims throughout the cabin. The front seats have red perforations along with embroidered NISMO logos. In addition, the NISMO-exclusive tuned RECARO sport seats have been engineered to enhance the sense of connection between the driver and vehicle. They also feature a power reclining function.
NISMO also made it a point to make optimal tweaks to the LEAF to help achieve better and sharper handling. Nissan said that the LEAF NISMO features NISMO-exclusive tuning that delivers responsive and nimble performance, making the vehicle feel lighter and more agile. The suspension features NISMO-exclusive springs, stabilizers, and selected member bushes, increasing overall suspension rigidity and improving steering response.
The Nissan LEAF NISMO also has swing valve-equipped shock absorbers that are said to help reduce initial body roll while allowing the suspension to respond smoothly to changing road surfaces. With this, Nissan said that the LEAF NISMO becomes lighter and achieves more responsive handling.
The Nissan LEAF NISMO still comes with the same power output rating. Nissan has not opted to make a performance tweak and believes that the suspension tuning it has done is more than enough to make the LEAF NISMO a more performance-oriented vehicle compared to the standard version. With that, it still comes with either a 52kWh battery or a 75kWh battery. The former generates a power output of 177 horsepower and 345 Nm of torque, while the latter generates 218 horsepower and 355 Nm of torque.
It has four drive modes: Standard, Eco, Sport, and Personal. Nissan said that the Standard, Eco, and Sport modes have unique 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 optimized to complement the NISMO-tuned chassis to offer a more integrated driving feel.
Autocar’s Take
Nissan has officially launched the LEAF NISMO in Japan, and has yet to announce if it plans to introduce the said EV in other markets. The Nissan LEAF NISMO comes with signature NISMO red accents on the exterior and on the interior. The exterior is integrated with design trims that are meant to make the vehicle more aerodynamic. While there are no power tweaks done, Nissan opted to make the LEAF NISMO achieve better and sharper handling, making the vehicle feel lighter and more agile.
