Nissan LEAF NISMO revealed – but it’s not quite what we expected

The Nissan LEAF NISMO has been revealed in Japan and goes on sale at the end of the month, but it doesn’t appear to be based on the LEAF E-Plus.

The arrival of a Nissan LEAF NISMO was previewed with the Leaf Nismo Concept last year, and it’s now arrived in production guise before going on sale at the end of July – in Japan, at least.

It’s a good idea to deliver a ‘performance’ take on the LEAF to counter competition from the rising number of more sporty EVs, and we did think the Leaf Nismo would be based on the upcoming, more powerful, LEAF E-Plus. But it appears not.

Nissan hasn’t actually declared what the Nismo’s powertrain is, so we must assume it’s the same 40kWh battery pack and 147bhp from its electric motor as the regular LEAF. We had been expecting the LEAF Nismo to come with the 215bhp and 60kWh battery expected in the LEAF E-Plus.

Still, Nissan has given the LEAF Nismo and electronic tweak for more responsive acceleration, new 18″ alloys with high grip tyres, custom suspension, red splashes on the inside with custom carbon look trim, the Nismo layered double wings, new nose and bumpers, bigger side sills and a rather more sporty demeanour.

As far as we can tell, this LEAF Nismo is only for the Japan market. Maybe there will be a LEAF Nismo based on the more powerful LEAF E-Plus for the UK and Europe? Let’s hope so.