Photo: Steve Fowler on Twitter
After starting production in September, the second-generation Leaf prepares to welcome a new member to the electrified family. The culprit is the Leaf NISMO Concept, which is confirmed to premiere later in the month in Japan.
The 2017 Tokyo Motor Show is the venue where the veils will be taken off, with Mazda giving Nissan a run for its money with the RX-Vision Version 2.0 rotary sports car concept. We’ve first heard that the Leaf NISMO is going official at the beginning of September, though it’s not clear what’s hiding under the skin. It appears that more power is on the menu for the compact EV.
Not to be confused with the 60 kWh battery that’s coming in 2018, the Leaf E-Plus is expected to arrive in 2019 as the high-performance Leaf nobody asked for. More power, more rigidity, and improved aerodynamics would work wonders for the electrified hatchback, although something has to be done about the torsion beam rear suspension to better the model’s driving dynamics.
It still isn’t clear if the Leaf NISMO will be offered as a design package or a performance model, but there’s no denying the Leaf E-Plus will be made available in NISsan MOtorsport attire. From the pictures posted on Twitter by British motoring journalist Steve Fowler, the concept sports a sharper front bumper, larger side skirts, and a black decal on the hood. In trademark NISMO fashion, red accents are also present, as is a set of large six-spoke alloy wheels.
As we wait for Nissan to drop details on the Leaf NISMO Concept, it should be highlighted that the first-generation model was briefly available with the so-called NISMO Performance Package. A Japan-only model, the Leaf NPP benefits from more aggressive body parts, reworked dampers and springs, aluminum wheels, 30-mm lower ride height, and something called Sports Reset.
The latter feature is, in layman’s terms, a performance-oriented vehicle control module developed to improve the driving characteristics of the Leaf. In other words, the first-gen Leaf in NISMO specification didn’t get any power bump over the regular model, but a more spirited driving experience.
Not to be confused with the 60 kWh battery that’s coming in 2018, the Leaf E-Plus is expected to arrive in 2019 as the high-performance Leaf nobody asked for. More power, more rigidity, and improved aerodynamics would work wonders for the electrified hatchback, although something has to be done about the torsion beam rear suspension to better the model’s driving dynamics.
It still isn’t clear if the Leaf NISMO will be offered as a design package or a performance model, but there’s no denying the Leaf E-Plus will be made available in NISsan MOtorsport attire. From the pictures posted on Twitter by British motoring journalist Steve Fowler, the concept sports a sharper front bumper, larger side skirts, and a black decal on the hood. In trademark NISMO fashion, red accents are also present, as is a set of large six-spoke alloy wheels.
As we wait for Nissan to drop details on the Leaf NISMO Concept, it should be highlighted that the first-generation model was briefly available with the so-called NISMO Performance Package. A Japan-only model, the Leaf NPP benefits from more aggressive body parts, reworked dampers and springs, aluminum wheels, 30-mm lower ride height, and something called Sports Reset.
The latter feature is, in layman’s terms, a performance-oriented vehicle control module developed to improve the driving characteristics of the Leaf. In other words, the first-gen Leaf in NISMO specification didn’t get any power bump over the regular model, but a more spirited driving experience.
And now a better picture of the new Nissan Leaf Nismo concept... pic.twitter.com/EIX2jaYEap
— Steve Fowler (@SteveFowler) October 2, 2017
Coming to the Tokyo Motor Show later this month - the Nissan Leaf Nismo concept. pic.twitter.com/fL0pBKHwQr
— Steve Fowler (@SteveFowler) October 2, 2017
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