- The Nismo treatment brings some hardware changes, but without an increase in power.
- The Nissan Leaf Nismo gets suspension upgrades and Michelin Pilot Sport 5 sports tyres.
- Recaro seats, red accents and Nismo badges distinguish it from the standard Leaf.
As counterintuitive as the idea of the Leaf Nismo may seem, it’s been done before. Nissan’s strategy for Nismo dates back to 2018, when the previous-generation EV produced a sportier version. With SUVs like the Armada/Patrol and Rogue/X-Trail also getting the Nismo treatment, there’s apparently no limit on which models can wear the badge once it’s reserved for true sports cars. It’s also not the first electric SUV with Nismo branding, as the Ariya Nismo has already been around for a few years.
Nissan wants to double the Nismo lineup to 10 models in the coming years and increase annual sales to 100,000 to 150,000 units by the end of 2028. It remains to be seen how big a role the new Leaf Nismo will play, given that people buying Leafs typically aren’t looking for performance. While it’s still a perfectly sensible EV, the new range-topping version adds a dose of visual drama with a beefier body kit featuring an extended ducktail spoiler.
Photo by: Nissan
Disappointingly, it’s stuck with the base model’s regular taillights instead of the Z-esque design found on higher trim levels. Apart from a more muscular body kit with red accents and Nismo badging, the flagship Leaf gets newly designed 19-inch Enkei wheels specifically for this edition. The styling modifications are clearly not just for looks, as they also provide aerodynamic benefits by reducing drag and increasing downforce.
The red color continues inside, where the Leaf Nismo gets optional Recaro front seats with more lateral support. Elsewhere, Nissan has wrapped the steering wheel in Nappa leather-like synthetic leather and added a red 12 o’clock marker. To drive the point home, a Nismo badge adorns the center console, while the digital instrument cluster features unique graphics to indicate that this is no ordinary Leaf.
However, not everything is purely cosmetic. The Leaf Nismo receives a hardware upgrade, borrowing the swing valve-equipped shock absorbers from the X-Trail Nismo we mentioned earlier. It also has upgraded springs and stabilizers, while some of the suspension bushings have been modified. The new wheels are wrapped in grippy 235/45 R19 Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tyres, and the Sport mode has been further tuned for sharper throttle response.
However, the Leaf Nismo doesn’t actually get much power. In Japan, it is available with a front-mounted electric motor in two outputs: 174 hp and 254 lb-ft (345 Nm), or 214 hp and 261 lb-ft (355 Nm). It weighs 4,012 pounds (1,820 kg) in its lightest configuration with a 52-kWh battery, or 220 pounds (100 kg) more with the larger 75-kWh pack. The optional Recaros weighs 44 pounds (20 kg), but is only offered with the larger battery.
The new Leaf Nismo with the smaller battery is already available to order in Japan for 6,601,100 yen (about $40,500 at current exchange rates). It’s priced at 6,952,000 yen ($42,600) with the Big Pack, and if you want Recaro seats, the price rises to 7,227,000 yen ($44,300).
At the moment, Nissan has not said whether it plans to sell the Leaf Nismo in other markets. However, given its ambitious expansion plans for the Nismo lineup, it seems likely that the model will eventually be offered outside Japan as well.
17
Source: Nissan
