Nissan introduces the Leaf NISMO RC electric race car

KUALA LUMPUR: The NISMO RC electric car designed with Nissan’s race technology, has made its official debut at the 21st annual NISMO Festival on the 2nd December 2018. The event was organised at Fuji Speedway in Japan, where besides displaying the new Leaf, Nissan also showcased its second-generation Formula E car. The all-new Leaf is a completely restyled version of the electric road automobile that can offer more power output than its predecessor.

The Nissan Leaf comes designed with an inverter and 161 hp electric engine on each axle, which generates a combined power of 322 horsepower and a total of 640 Nm torque. This is even more than double the power output delivered by the road-going electric Leaf hatchback which generates a maximum power of 147 horsepower and a peak torque of 320 Nm from its front axle. An all-wheel drive is incorporated for the first time in the vehicle. The vehicle comes packed with a lithium-ion battery, carried over from the original Leaf.

The external design of the all-new Nissan Leaf draws its inspiration from the original Leaf but portrays a more athletic and sporty exterior. The front portion of the vehicle has received dynamic redesign elements including Nissan's iconic V-motion grille and a long hood. The black-and-silver paint pattern, accompanied with NISMO red graphics, is another distinctive exterior highlight of the all-new Leaf NISMO RC. The car model has a length of 4,546 mm, which is a bit longer than its predecessor and has a wheelbase measuring 2,750 mm.

Nissan plans to manufacture just six of the all-new Leaf NISMO RC, which suggest there will be no customer race cars and definitely no road models can be expected. The auto marque has plans to put it on display at Formula E races, and other significant motor shows and events across the globe.