Nissan Ariya NISMO Shows Up in Japan, Would Be Cool in Canada
The 2024 edition of Tokyo Auto Salon kicked off today and Nissan used the popular tuning event to introduce a NISMO variant of its Ariya electric crossover.
Similar to the GT-R NISMO and Z NISMO (not to mention the LEAF NISMO that we don’t get here in Canada), this new model sports a racier design inside and out while delivering more power and sharper handling.
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First off, Nissan added a black hood stripe (optional), front lip spoiler, side skirts and rear diffuser with a motorsport-inspired, integrated fog light. A red accent line circles the lower body and NISMO badges complete the look. Oh, and unique 20-inch wheels are included, too. Those are wrapped in 255-mm tires that are 20 mm wider than the stock ones for extra bite on the road and the track.
The interior (shown in Japanese-spec, right-hand-drive configuration) is largely black but features red accents on the centre armrest, door panels and dashboard. In typical NISMO fashion, there’s a flat-bottom sport steering wheel with red stitching and a red 12 o'clock mark.
Naturally, the seats offer larger side bolsters providing increased support. They’re appointed in fake suede with red perforated accents. Elsewhere, the displays feature red lighting instead of soft white for a sportier appearance.
Now, let’s look at the stuff that really matters. The Ariya NISMO can be had with a 66kWh battery, generating 362 horsepower (+27) and 413 lb-ft of torque, or with a 91kWh battery, in which case output rises to 429 horsepower (+40) combined with 442 lb-ft. Too bad that torque is unchanged.
A unique NISMO drive mode is added, offering improved throttle response among other things. Power is distributed among all four wheels using Nissan’s e-4ORCE AWD system, but with a rear-wheel bias. Apparently, engineers tweaked the artificial sound of the sportier Ariya to emulate Formula E cars, but that’s not exactly music to our ears.
The chassis and suspension have been revised, as well, contributing to greater stability and better handling especially in high-speed corners. Alas, the company didn’t go into specifics regarding the upgrades.
Nissan plans to launch the Ariya NISMO in Japan this spring. Will it come to North America? Keep your fingers crossed until we have further information to report. As a reminder, alternatives include the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance (480 horsepower), Tesla Model Y Performance (456 horsepower), Kia EV6 GT (576 horsepower) and Hyundai IONIQ 5 N (641 horsepower).