Nissan’s in-house tuning arm, NISMO, has been churning out quite a few road cars since 2013. They’ve served up the Juke NISMO, March NISMO, Note NISMO, and 370Z NISMO, just to name a few. All offerings have a sporty vibe and offer improved performance while still being usable for the daily grind.
Now, the Japanese tuning company gets its hands on the recently introduced Leaf fully electric vehicle. Yes, the Nissan Leaf NISMO will be hitting the scene by the end of July—in Japan, that is. As expected, a slew of custom parts enhance the car’s exterior, interior, and chassis to give it more oomph in terms of style and driving dynamics.
From the outside, the grille, side sills, wheels, and rear fascia get the custom NISMO treatment. The cabin likewise receives the signature red accents on the steering wheel and dash. The electric gear selector is clad in gunmetal trim for a sporty vibe. A custom instrument panel with the NISMO logo, along with more NISMO badging, round out the changes.
Beyond the sporty looks, NISMO tweaked the chassis to give the zero-emissions vehicle even better performance. A custom computer promises better acceleration—improving the already inherent quick launch times of the electric motor. To aid handling and ride comfort, custom suspension, custom vehicle speed-sensing steering, custom brakes, and custom Itelligent Trace Control have been added to the mix. These are complemented by custom 18-inch alloys wrapped in Continental ContiSport tires that offer maximum grip without sacrificing rolling resistance.
All told, the Nissan Leaf NISMO promises to offer the kind of driving performance the marque is known for minus the guilt. It will go on sale in Japan beginning July 31, 2018.
