New Nissan Ariya Nismo revealed: an unexpected performance electric SUV
July 16, 2024 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
This is the new Nissan Ariya Nismo, and it marks the return of the performance nameplate to Europe after the iconic GT-R Nismo disappeared from showrooms in 2022.
- New Nissan Ariya Nismo revealed
- Return of the Nismo brand to Europe
- Sporty styling upgrades
- Tweaked suspension for improved handling
- On sale later this year
You probably weren’t expecting to see this today: the new Nissan Ariya Nismo. In a shock twist, Nissan has resurrected its performance nameplate in Europe to create a hot version of its rather sensible electric SUV.
It’ll join the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N in the very small pool of sporty EVs on the market right now, however exact performance figures haven’t been confirmed yet.
New Nissan Ariya Nismo design
All you hardcore Nissan fans out there may be wincing at the thought of an electric SUV with a Nismo badge on it, but this isn’t the first time Nissan has done something quirky with its sporty sub brand. You may remember the slightly ridiculous Juke Nismo, a highly-tuned version of the brand’s compact SUV.
The new Ariya Nismo certainly has plenty of styling upgrades to make it stand out as the performance flagship. Up front you have a revised bumper with large air vents at the sides, as well as a deeper lower splitter with red accents.
There’s more red detailing down the side on the chunky side skirts, and the alloy wheels are also unique to the Nismo model. Moving to the rear you have some double wing action, as well as a much more aggressive-looking lower bumper with more red trim and a Nismo badge.
The interior has been given a spruce-up as well, with body-hugging sports seats featuring red stitching and embroidered Nismo emblems, along with yet more red detailing around the centre console.
New Nissan Ariya Nismo performance and chassis
Nissan hasn’t explicitly said exactly how much power this new Ariya Nismo will make, however it will be based on the existing 87kWh e-4ORCE model. That car has 394hp going to all four wheels, so you can expect to see a similar figure from the Nismo.
This means 0-60mph is likely to take around 5.0 seconds, and over 300 miles of range is also on the cards. Should this be the case, it won’t hold a candle to the Ioniq 5 N in terms of performance – that car will do 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds.
The main focus of the Nismo is around handling, and there have been a few tweaks to the chassis to make it more fun on a twisty road. The all-wheel drive system has been fettled to improve the torque distribution to the wheels, which should make it feel more agile. You also have stickier tyres and tuned suspension to improve grip.
New Nissan Ariya Nismo: when can I buy one?
Fancy having a look at this new sporty EV? Well you’ll be able to get up-close with it at the London ePrix Formula E race in July. Sales are expected to start later this year, however you can expect the Nismo to fetch a premium over the standard car. A starting price of over £60,000 seems likely.
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