New Nissan Leaf Nismo RC Debuts With Carbon Monocoque, 322HP

Nissan’s all-new Leaf Nismo RC electric racer was unveiled in Tokyo, Japan, and will make its official debut on Sunday, December 2, during the Nismo Festival at the Fuji International Speedway.

Set to appear alongside Nissan’s new Formula E car, it was developed by the brand’s racing arm Nismo, and has dual electric motors, for a combined output of 322 hp (327 PS / 240 kW) and 472 lb-ft (640 Nm) of torque.

That’s more than double the output of its predecessor, which was introduced in 2011. Nissan claims 3.4 seconds for the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration, a 50 percent improvement over the previous Leaf Nismo RC.

“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, Nissan’s Executive VP and chief of Marketing, Sales and Electric Vehicles. “It’s our most thrilling expression yet of the philosophy of Nissan Intelligent Mobility.”

The new electric racer tips the scales at just 2,690 lbs (1,220 kg). The lightweight construction of the model starts with a carbon fiber monocoque. The electric motors and inverters have been placed over the front and rear tires for better balance, and the new Leaf Nismo RC has an all-wheel drive system, with the instant torque supply being channeled to the tire with most grip for improved cornering performance.

As for the high-capacity lithium-ion battery and inverters, these have been sourced from the street-legal, second-gen Nissan Leaf.

A restyled front end, long hood, LED lighting, adjustable rear wing, three-piece bodywork with removable front and rear sections, lower ground clearance and fixed windows, in addition to the silver and black paint scheme, set it apart visually on the outside.

Only six units of the new Leaf Nismo RC will be built and deployed around the world.