Taking a glance at the NISMO car lineup the Leaf is not one you would immediately suspect to earn the NISMO badge. Then again we did get the NISMO Juke so anything seems possible. With the increasing popularity of electric cars this could definitely be a smart move from Nissan. Adding an element of fun to a typically bland electric car could bring some cool results. To be completely honest I am not expecting all that much performance from the car but I think Nissans intentions are set on just making a more exciting electric leaf not breaking records.
? Combining the excitement and advanced technologies of @Nissan‘s flagship EV with the sporty image and performance of the #NISMO road car series, the #LEAF NISMO will go on sale this month in ??. pic.twitter.com/kDtBAtVSd8
— Nissan NISMO (@NISMO) July 19, 2018
The current 2018 Nissan Leaf comes equipped with a 147 horsepower electric and 236 ft/lb electric motor. That pushes to Nissan Leaf to 60 mph in around 8 seconds. Nothing to be impressed by, but obviously the Leaf wasn’t meant to turn heads. Many people are shocked as to why Nissan decided on the leaf for the next car to receive the NISMO badge with numbers like these though.
We have seen companies like Tesla prove the power of electric cars with insane 0-60 times and it’s not uncommon for lower tier models to get performance models. For example the Honda Civic Type R has become a cultural phenomenon and back when the civic was first around that is something many people would not expect. Now, I know the first edition of the NISMO Leaf does not seem like it is seeking out the Type R’s spot but its not far fetched for performance models of otherwise basic vehicles.
It is rumored the NISMO leaf will get an upgraded computer chip to increase power but the actual electric motor will stay the same as the base model. An important upgrade comes in the steering, something many car reviews might skip over but a better feel here makes for a completely different driving experience. It has been said the revised power steering will provide a more responsive direct feel for the driver. Also there is sport suspension, better performing tires, sport seats with decent side bolsters, and various interior upgrades for a sporty appearance inside. No doubt all of these upgrades make for a more exciting Nissan Leaf. Ultimately some may argue it is not worthy of the NISMO badge, but at the end of the day Nissan decides what is worthy of the badge.
With the way electric cars are heading I do not see this as a bad move, providing consumers with a more exciting option of an electric vehicle is a great idea. I am curious to what everyone else here is thinking about the NISMO Leaf, feel free to leave comments below!
