Nissan Leaf Nismo RC Shows Off Its Electrified Muscles On Europe For The First Time

Nissan has brought the Leaf Nismo RC for the first time on European soil, and more specifically at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.

The Nissan Leaf Nismo RC was created as a “test-bed for future technologies”, exploring what can be achieved with an electric twin-motor setup and all-wheel drive. The show car packs 322 HP and 472 lb-ft (640 Nm) of torque, making it capable of a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.4 seconds.

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

Nissan’s electric race car is built upon a carbon fiber tub that keeps the weight down to 2,690 lbs (1,220 kg) and of course provides the perfect basis for heavy track use.

The Leaf Nismo RC’s all-wheel drive system channels torque to the tire with the most grip for the best possible cornering performance while the electric motors and converters are mounted over the front and rear tires for better balance.

“For Nissan, the ‘E’ in ‘EV’ also stands for ‘Exciting’. Putting this philosophy front and centre, we created the LEAF NISMO RC. It amplifies the fun-to-drive aspect of electric mobility, raising the thrills offered by EVs to a new level,” Michael Carcamo, Nissan Global Motorsport Director said.

Last October, Nissan presented another Leaf prototype, this time based on the electric hatchback currently on sale, powered by a similar twin-motor, all-wheel drive setup. That show car offered a combined 304 HP and 502 lb-ft (680 Nm) of torque, with Nissan adding that they are indeed developing a new electric four-wheel-control technology that will reach eventually production.

Nissan’s latest production EV is the long-range Leaf E+, which packs a bigger 62 kWh battery, a 217 HP electric motor and an EPA-estimated driving range of up to 226 miles (363 km) -76 miles more than the base Leaf with the 40 kWh battery pack.