Nissan LEAF Nismo Concept previews a new ‘Sporty’ LEAF

The Nissan LEAF Nismo Concept is heading for the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show, presumably previewing a much sportier take on Nissan’s best-selling EV.

The new Nissan LEAF has just gone on sale in the UK, but it looks like it may soon be joined by a new sporty variant – the Nissan LEAF Nismo.

Regular readers may remember we reported on a Nissan LEAF Nismo some six years ago, which turned up at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show with a sporty look and sports suspension.

But that LEAF Nismo never made production, perhaps because the rather odd-looking first generation LEAF really didn’t lend itself to a sporty makeover, and back then EVs were all about frugality, not sportiness.

But times have changed, and the market is no receptive to performance EVs, added to which the new LEAF is a good looking hatch which does lend itself to a bit of a sporty makeover.

So this new LEAF Nismo Concept (above) probably previews a production model on the way from Nissan some time soon, although Nissan aren’t terribly forthcoming yet on what a Nismo LEAF will offer.

Clearly there’s some sporty add-ons to the bodywork – although they’re quite restrained – and Nissan tell us the Nismo has upgraded suspension and grippier tyres.

There’s no mention of additional power over and above the regular LEAF’s 147bhp, but Nissan do say it’s been recalibrated to give instant responses.

To us, this LEAF Nismo looks production ready. We’ll find out exactly what it offers in Tokyo.