No, they haven’t tuned the Leaf. Instead, they’ve built an extreme racing one, almost from the ground up. Dubbed Nissan LEAF NISMO RC, with RC standing for Racing Competition, the vehicle has made its debut at the New York Auto Show.
The vehicle borrows the standard Leaf’s powertrain (107 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque) and lithium ion battery pack, but pretty much every other part of the car has been replaced.
We are now dealing with a coupe, which is 40 percent lighter (2.068 lbs), mainly thanks to the use of a carbon fiber monocoque. The racing Leaf is 13.8 inches lower, 6.7-inches wider and 0.8 inches longer, with a 3.9-inch shorter wheelbase, coming with a ground clearance lowered from 6.3 to 2.4 inches.
The motorsport-destined EV comes with goodies such as 18-inch rims that use 225/40 Bridgestone racing rubber and a massive rear wing. The car uses a mid-engine-like setup, with the power being sent to the rear wheels.
The result? A 0 to 62 mph time of 6.85 seconds and a top speed of 93 mph (150 km/h), with a racing-conditions autonomy of 20 minutes. As for the quick charge time, which brings the battery to an 80 percent charge status, this stands at 30 minutes.
Of course, we don't expect to see the vehicle winning any championship, as it will mainly be used for marketing purposes.
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