New Nissan Leaf NISMO RC race car unleashed

A second generation of the Nissan Leaf NISMO RC racing car has been unveiled, with a public debut set to take place in Japan this weekend alongside the company’s Formula E car.

Built by Nissan’s racing division, the new Leaf NISMO RC is said to deliver more than double the amount of power and torque of the original car, which was revealed in 2011.

Using two electric motors – one on each axle – the new Leaf NISMO RC produces 322bhp and 640Nm of torque, significantly more than the everyday production car manages.

It also features a new all-wheel-drive system and advanced battery technology. Nissan says power will automatically be sent to whichever wheel has the most grip in order to aid performance on track.

Nissan has also put the Leaf NISMO RC on a diet, making the internal structure of the car out of carbon-fibre in order to save weight. Other lightweight components have been introduced, bringing the weight down to 1,220kg. As such, 0-62mph takes just 3.4 seconds, more than twice as fast as its predecessor.

New, aggressive styling has been added to mark the jump in performance: the front end now features a V-shaped grille and the new car is more than 300mm lower for a sportier look. The silver-and-black paint scheme with red highlights echoes the livery of Nissan’s Formula E car.

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“The all-new Leaf NISMO RC shows how we’re setting our sights even higher when it comes to raw power and performance – making electric vehicles even more exciting for customers,” said Daniele Schillaci, executive vice president at Nissan. “It’s our most thrilling expression yet of the philosophy of Nissan Intelligent Mobility.”

While the Leaf NISMO is built for the track, it won’t compete in any official racing series. Instead, Nissan plans to construct six cars, which will perform demonstration runs at races and events across the globe, with the aim of showcasing zero-emissions power that’s “quiet yet exciting”.