Photo: Baldauf
Last year, Nissan's chief for Europe, Guillaume Cartier, announced the brand's intentions to launch sporty electric vehicles under the Nismo moniker. Fast forward to the present day, and it appears the company has started the road and track testing phase of such a model – the first one, for what it's worth.
What we have here is a sportier version of the Nissan Ariya. The electric crossover boasts several visual enhancements that contribute to its more muscular look, and the first thing that comes to mind is Nismo.
Compared to the regular versions, this one has a new bumper with reshaped side vents. The lower intake is smaller, and it has a chunky apron, presumably to improve the aerodynamics during fast driving. The back end of the side skirts seems to have been tweaked, and it has a new rear diffuser with what appears to be a motorsport-inspired additional brake light incorporated in the middle.
Another thing worth mentioning is the spoiler mounted above the taillights. Presumably shod in stickier tires, the five double-spoke wheels are also different than the ones normally equipping the Ariya. If this is indeed the rumored Nismo version of the all-quiet crossover, then we should expect additional modifications. The chassis could be tweaked to lower the ground clearance, and it remains to be seen whether beefier brakes will be part of the sporty makeover.
Mind you, the latter part depends on whether the Ariya Nismo will get more power. The range-topping version of the current Ariya boasts up to 389 horsepower (395 ps/290 kW) and 442 pound-feet (599 Nm) of torque combined from its all-wheel drive electric powertrain that enables the 0-60 mph (0-97 kph) in 4.8 seconds. This assembly is already a good candidate for a potential Nismo model, but in order to truly set it apart from the lesser grades, it would need more power.
Besides the visual enhancements, potential chassis revisions, and what should be more power (in an ideal world), the Nissan Ariya Nismo will likely get a few upgrades in the cockpit, too. Here, it should bring front sports seats, new upholstery and trim, and likely a dedicated driving mode. The Japanese brand's engineers and designers could give it plenty more, but these seem like the most logical updates.
It is yet unknown when the performance-focused variant of the electric crossover will be unveiled, but we think it won't come out until next year. We don't see why Nissan would not bring it to the United States, and when they do, it will become the most expensive version of the Ariya. The current range-topper of the series has an MSRP of $60,190, and depending on how many extra goodies it gets, it will exceed $70k or perhaps $80k.
Compared to the regular versions, this one has a new bumper with reshaped side vents. The lower intake is smaller, and it has a chunky apron, presumably to improve the aerodynamics during fast driving. The back end of the side skirts seems to have been tweaked, and it has a new rear diffuser with what appears to be a motorsport-inspired additional brake light incorporated in the middle.
Another thing worth mentioning is the spoiler mounted above the taillights. Presumably shod in stickier tires, the five double-spoke wheels are also different than the ones normally equipping the Ariya. If this is indeed the rumored Nismo version of the all-quiet crossover, then we should expect additional modifications. The chassis could be tweaked to lower the ground clearance, and it remains to be seen whether beefier brakes will be part of the sporty makeover.
Mind you, the latter part depends on whether the Ariya Nismo will get more power. The range-topping version of the current Ariya boasts up to 389 horsepower (395 ps/290 kW) and 442 pound-feet (599 Nm) of torque combined from its all-wheel drive electric powertrain that enables the 0-60 mph (0-97 kph) in 4.8 seconds. This assembly is already a good candidate for a potential Nismo model, but in order to truly set it apart from the lesser grades, it would need more power.
Besides the visual enhancements, potential chassis revisions, and what should be more power (in an ideal world), the Nissan Ariya Nismo will likely get a few upgrades in the cockpit, too. Here, it should bring front sports seats, new upholstery and trim, and likely a dedicated driving mode. The Japanese brand's engineers and designers could give it plenty more, but these seem like the most logical updates.
It is yet unknown when the performance-focused variant of the electric crossover will be unveiled, but we think it won't come out until next year. We don't see why Nissan would not bring it to the United States, and when they do, it will become the most expensive version of the Ariya. The current range-topper of the series has an MSRP of $60,190, and depending on how many extra goodies it gets, it will exceed $70k or perhaps $80k.
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