New Nissan Leaf Nismo RC Proves EV Racing Doesn’t Have To Be Boring

The long-range Leaf e+ may have taken center stage at Nissan’s 2019 CES booth, but chances are visitors took more photos of the Leaf Nismo RC electric race car.

Packing double the power and torque output of its predecessor, the all-new Leaf Nismo RC made its North American debut in the Las Vegas event.

The electric race car showcases the potential of the brand’s zero-emission technology in an exciting package created by Nismo, Nissan’s racing division. The Leaf Nismo RC packs dual electric motors, advanced battery technology, and all-wheel-drive capability wrapped in an attractive body shape.

Placed at opposite ends of the chassis and managing power independently to each axle, the two electric motors produce 120 kW (163 PS/161 hp) each for a total of 240 kW (326 PS/322 hp) and 640 Nm (472 lb-ft) of instantly available torque.

Factor in the low weight of 2,690 lbs (1,220 kg) made possible by the carbon fiber monocoque chassis, and the electric racer goes from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.4 seconds, a 50 percent improvement over the previous-gen Leaf Nismo RC.

Nissan claims the new AWD system gives the Leaf Nismo RC “outstanding cornering prowess,” which is something one expects from a race car. In the Leaf’s case, that’s due to the instant torque supply being channeled to the tire with the highest amount of grip for improved cornering performance.

Styling-wise, the EV racer features a totally redesigned front end featuring Nissan’s signature V-motion grille and a long hood. Sitting glued to the ground, the race car seems like it’s in constant motion, thanks also to the silver-and-black livery with Nismo red accents.

If only Nissan built a road-going Leaf looking half as nice as this racer, we guess that it’d get lots of orders. But the ordinary Leaf is doing just fine, so this will probably never happen.