Nissan Ariya Nismo: Tesla Model Y Performance rival coming on 12 January

The hot electric SUV space is heating up (pun intended) as Nissan is preparing to reveal an all-new high-performance version of its Ariya family crossover. Due to be unveiled on 12 January, the Nissan Ariya Nismo will become the second EV to receive the ‘Nismo’ treatment, after the Japan-only Nissan Leaf Nismo.

Previously spied testing on European roads and now teased in a new image released by Nissan itself, the new Ariya Nismo will get a much more aggressive bodykit than the standard car. Development models may be sporting heavy camouflage, but it’s easy to see the more aggressive front and rear bumpers, as well as the two new spoilers dressing the bootlid.

Ariya Nismo test mules have also been spotted riding on redesigned 20-inch alloy wheels; these are the same size as the ones already fitted to high-spec versions of Nissan’s electric family SUV, but are wrapped in much stickier Michelin Pilot Sport EV rubber – no doubt giving the car a little more grip for tearing up twisty roads.

We don’t expect the changes to be solely skin deep, either; previous Nismo models have featured tweaked suspension setups and upgraded brakes and it’s not too farfetched to suggest the Nismo-tuned Ariya will get similar improvements, too.

In terms of power, the current top-of-the-line Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE Evolve+ already outputs a substantial 389bhp, enough to propel the two-tonne electric SUV from 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds. A tune from Nismo could easily push this figure over the 400bhp mark and bring the sprint to 62mph down under five seconds. While this is still nowhere near as fast as a Tesla Model Y Performance, it’d make the hot Ariya more than quick enough to keep up with the likes of the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX and Skoda Enyaq vRS.

Excited? Well, there’s not too long to wait now, with the car being fully revealed in the coming days and likely going on sale towards the middle of 2024. Prices are likely to start north of £60,000; expensive, yes, but the Ariya has long been pitched as a more premium alternative to VW and Skoda rivals.