Nissan has launched its first-ever overtly sporting version of the Leaf electric car, in the shape of this new Leaf Nismo.
What's a Nismo when it's at home?
Nismo really ought to be better known - up there with VW GTI and Ford RS - but for now it's still a bit under the radar, unless you've spent too much time playing Gran Turismo. It's a contraction of Nissan Motorsport, and it's been the department behind some of Nissan's best work, from its storming 1,000hp+ Le Mans racers to the legendary GT-R supercar.
So the Leaf now has 1,000hp?
Er, no. In fact, there's no extra power at all, and the Leaf Nismo sticks with the same 135kW and 160kW (that's a maximum of 217hp) electric motors as the standard versions.
So what makes this a Nismo?
As with the larger Ariya Nismo (which is available in Ireland, giving us hope that this Leaf version will eventually make the journey from Japan, where it's just been launched), the idea here is to give the Leaf some sporty style, and some sharper handling, but without the need for extra power which would compromise its range. Anyway, since when was 217hp not enough?
It certainly looks chunkier…
Yup, there's a deeper front bumper, with red pinstriping and little aero flicks that help guide the air down the sides, where you'll also find deeper side skirts, also with the red pinstripe - officially the colour name is 'Arterial Magma'. At the rear, there's another, deeper bumper with a 'boat hull' diffuser shape and a prominent ducktail rear spoiler (shades of seventies Porsche…) atop the boot lid, too. That's said to enhance downforce while also reducing drag.
There's a gloss black finish for the exterior trim, and you can choose from the usual four body colours available for the Leaf, or two variations of a special Nismo Stealth Grey. It's all finished off by exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels.
Any changes to the inside?
Yup, although thankfully the Leaf keeps its impressive mix of digital and physical controls. There's a new synthetic leather trim for the steering wheel, called TailorFit, which Nissan says feels more tactile and yet is very hard-wearing. There's a bright red 12-o'clock marker too, in case you need to add any opposite lock…
There are lots of Nismo logos dotted around the cabin, plus some gorgeous high-backed bucket seats with red and black trim, made for Nissan by seat legends Recaro.
Are there any actual mechanical changes?
Yes, actually. While the power outputs remain the same across the two motor and battery choices (there's a standard 40kWh battery, or a longer-range 75kWh unit), Nismo has had a good fettle around under the Leaf's bodywork. There are special Nismo-spec suspension springs, anti-roll bars, and bushes, and the standard dampers have been swapped out for higher-spec swing valve-equipped units, which Nissan says help reduce initial body roll while allowing the suspension to respond smoothly to changing road surfaces.
On top of that, those 19-inch alloys (made by German specialists Henkel) are wrapped in grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tyres, which should, by themselves, give the Leaf NISMO a much more obvious sporting edge compared to the regular version.
The Leaf's switchable driving modes have also had an electronic Nismo go-over, with the standard car's Sport mode being replaced here by a Nismo mode. The paddle-shift-controlled regenerative braking system has also been tweaked.
What about the range of the Nissan Leaf Nismo?
That we don't know yet - Nissan hasn't released official figures, but the combo of the bodykit and those grippier Michelins will doubtless affect the overall range. We'd expect it to dip just below the 600km mark for the big-battery 75kWh version, but we'll get confirmation on that later.