Nissan LEAF EV with 4WD gets 300bhp – and it could be OVER 400bhp

Nissan has revealed an electric LEAF test car fitted with a pair of electric motors and 4WD with 300bhp, as it demonstrates its EV future plans.

We’ve just seen the reveal of what is likely to turn in to a ‘LEAF SUV’ from Nissan – the Nissan Ariya – at the Tokyo Motor Show. And it looks promising.

With a new design direction and the promise of a useful electric powertrain, the Ariya should arrive within a year as a production model, although when it comes to technical details Nissan hasn’t been very forthcoming.

But now Nissan has revealed a LEAF test car as they demonstrate some of the future direction for EVs, complete with 4WD thanks to an electric motor on each axle, previewing a new twin-motor electric AWD system which seems certain to debut in the production version of the Ariya.

Using a modified Nissan LEAF e+, the motors on each axle deliver a combined 300bhp, which will make the LEAF much livelier than the current range-topper, but it seems that’s just half the story.

In fact, this modified LEAF has a 211bhp motor on each axle, but because of the LEAF’s relatively modest battery it’s been dialled-down to deliver a total of 300bhp, rather than the more than 400bhp it’s capable of. Which does suggest a range-topping Nissan Ariya with more than 400bhp on this new 4WD electric Platform.

Nissan say this new powertrain delivers not just high power and high torque, but precision handling and lots of stability by optimising power flow to the motors and torque to wheels individually, and the promise of smoother deceleration too.

All of which sounds like Nissan are finally starting to fight back properly against the rising competition in the EV market they’ve dominated for so long.