Nissan’s all-new Leaf Nismo RC electric racer was
unveiled in Tokyo, Japan, and make its official debut on December
2, during the Nismo Festival at the Fuji International Speedway. Set to appear alongside Nissan’s new
Formula E car, it was developed by the brand’s racing arm Nismo, and has dual
electric motors, for a combined output of 322 hp and 640 Nm of torque.
That’s more than double the output of its
predecessor, which was introduced in 2011. Nissan claims 3.4 seconds for the
0-100 km/h acceleration, a 50 percent improvement over the previous
Leaf Nismo RC. The new electric racer tips the scales at just 1,220 kg.
The lightweight construction of the model starts with a carbon
fiber monocoque. The electric motors and inverters have been placed over the
front and rear tires for better balance, and the new Leaf Nismo RC has an
all-wheel drive system, with the instant torque supply being channeled to the
tire with most grip for improved cornering performance.
As for the high-capacity lithium-ion battery and
inverters, these have been sourced from the street-legal, second-gen Nissan
Leaf. A restyled front end, long hood, LED lighting,
adjustable rear wing, three-piece bodywork with removable front and rear
sections, lower ground clearance and fixed windows, in addition to the silver
and black paint scheme, set it apart visually on the outside. Only six units of the new Leaf Nismo RC will be
built and deployed around the world.
