Unveiled in 2011, the Leaf NISMO RC took Nissan’s zero-emission strategy to the racing circuit. Seven years later, the Japanese automaker from Yokohama has taken the veil off the second generation of the electric racing car.
Developed from the road-going model but with know-how from the Formula E racing program, the Leaf RC comes with two electric motors that deliver 240 kW. In other words, make that 322 horsepower (327 PS) and 472 pound-feet (640 Nm) of torque.
“The Leaf NISMO RC shows how we’re setting our sights even higher when it comes to raw power and performance – making electric vehicles even more exciting for customers,” declared Daniele Schillaci, executive vice-president and head of marketing, sales, and electric vehicles. “It’s our most thrilling expression yet of the philosophy of Nissan Intelligent Mobility.”
No less than six examples of the breed will be built for deploying around the world, each tipping the scale at 1,220 kilograms (2,690 pounds) without the driver. The performance is on a different level too, with Nissan quoting 3.4 seconds from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph).
Thanks to the dual-motor design, the Leaf NISMO RC also happens to be all-wheel drive. The drivetrain is set up to channel the torque to the wheel (or wheels) with the most grip, translating to the superior performance when cornering. Nissan paid attention to the weight balance too, optimizing the midship location of the lithium-ion battery.
The bodywork is made up of three removable pieces, which join fixed elements such as the windows, headlights and taillights, as well as the adjustable rear wing. Sporting an overall length of 4,546 millimeters and a wheelbase of 2,750 millimeters, the Leaf NISMO RC also happens to measure 1,212 millimeters from road to roof.
Japanese enthusiasts can take a look at the Leaf NISMO RC on December 2nd at the NISMO Festival, appearing alongside the Formula E racing car at the Fuji International Speedway. Of course, those very enthusiasts will be able to experience the performance of the electric racing car, running at full tilt on the circuit with a professional racing driver behind the steering wheel.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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