A Leaf NISMO isn’t in the works yet, but Nissan says strong interest could make it real
- The new Leaf borrows design and engineering cues from the Z sports car.
- A Nissan exec explains NISMO’s meaning varies between Japan and the U.S.
- If there are enough buyers, the brand could build a NISMO version of its EV.
The latest, and arguably greatest, Nissan Leaf is here, and for the first time, it’s leaning harder into the brand’s performance DNA. Its taillights, suspension tuning, and even its steering take inspiration from the Z sports car. There’s no Leaf NISMO in production just yet, but Nissan has hinted that one could happen if enough of you ask for it.
Also: The Surprising Way Nissan Hopes To Win Over Nervous First-Time EV Buyers
Christian Spencer, a senior manager at Nissan USA, told Carscoops that NISMO means different things depending on where you are in the world. “The NISMO brand has a lot of variation across the globe,” he said. “So in Japan, for example, NISMO has a lot deeper roots in some of the electric vehicles.”
Global Flavor
He pointed out that Japan already gets a NISMO-flavored Ariya, while North American buyers typically see the badge reserved for cars like the Z and GT-R.
“In the U.S. we try and focus it a little bit more just because the driving environment is different,” Spencer explained. “For example, Japanese roadways are small and steeper, so the meaning for NISMO varies a little bit.”
The Door Stays Open
When it comes to a Leaf NISMO specifically, Spencer didn’t shut the door. “I can say we are always open to exploring,” he noted. “I can’t talk about future product, but I think that we’re always exploring things that customers are interested in.”
Read: Nissan’s Full-Size SUV Gets The NISMO Treatment
And that brings us to the key point: if enough people want one, Nissan is willing to listen. As Spencer put it, “If we see that demand from the customer base, we’re going to follow it.”
That’s not confirmation, but at the same time it’s a far cry from a flat “no.” Nissan has already built NISMO versions of the Leaf for other markets in the past, and with the new model drawing inspiration from the automaker’s performance lineup, a hotter, sharper-handling electric hatch wouldn’t be out of place. The question now is whether U.S. buyers will be sufficient in numbers, and loud enough, to get one.
Photos Stephen Rivers for Carscoops
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