The brake regeneration system has been tweaked too, providing extra force in the higher levels for a “more engaging and rewarding driving experience”. As in the regular Leaf, there are Standard, Eco, Sport and Personal driving modes, although the ‘Sport’ mode has been changed to ‘Nismo’ with bespoke tuning to the electric motor – although no extra power is sent to the front wheels. The Leaf Nismo in B5 form comes with a 53kWh battery and 214bhp electric motor while the B7 Nismo comes with a 75kWh battery and 215bhp motor. But it doesn’t get the Ariya Nismo’s four-wheel drive system.
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We expect the Leaf’s 0-62mph times of 8.6 seconds (7.6 seconds for the 215bhp model) aren’t drastically different in Nismo form – although the exterior certainly is. There are two new unique paint finishes, both a variation of Nismo’s Stealth Grey, but way more eye-catching is the bodykit. This includes a reshaped front bumper with an extended lower lip, skirts down the side, and to the rear a unique, Nismo-branded bumper with a ducktail spoiler at the top of the bootlid. The Leaf Nismo also sits on lightweight 19-inch aluminium wheels, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tyres.
Nissan says all this creates additional downforce without increasing aerodynamic drag, so expect the range to remain similar to the standard car’s, with the 53kWh version good for 280 miles and the 75kWh Leaf reaching 375 miles.
The interior receives some sporty tweaks too, with the exterior’s red accents also found on the dash, doors, the 12-o’clock marker on the steering wheel and the optional two-tone leather Recaro bucket seats.
Pricing for the Leaf Nismo in Japan kicks off at 6,601,100 Yen (around £30,000), rising to 7,227,000 Yen (around £33,000) for the larger-battery car with those Recaro seats.
While it only went on sale last year, you can pick up a used 435bhp Nissan Ariya Nismo on the Auto Express Buy A Car service from under £32,000 and less than 12,000 miles on the clock – marking a huge drop from its £56,620 new price tag.
