The 2024 edition of the Tokyo Auto Salon, dedicated to performance and modified vehicles, takes place this weekend and Nissan took the opportunity to unveil a NISMO version of its Ariya electric SUV.
Following in the footsteps of the GT-R NISMO and Z NISMO coupes (not forgetting the LEAF NISMO which we don’t have in Canada), this new version adopts a sleeker design on the exterior and interior in addition to gaining in power and bite.
First, we notice the addition of a black stripe on the hood (optional), a front spoiler, side skirts and a rear diffuser with integrated fog light. The red line that surrounds the bottom of the body and the NISMO badges don’t lie. The 20-inch rims are shod with 255 mm wide tires, 20 mm more than the standard ones.
Photo: Nissan
The interior, presented with a steering wheel on the right since this is a copy intended for Japan, is almost all black. A few red inserts on the central armrest, the doors and the dashboard provide contrast and sportiness. This is also the case for the stitching and the position marker at the top of the sports steering wheel, as in other NISMO models.
Naturally, the seats have more pronounced side bolsters for better support. They are trimmed with faux suede with red dots. Furthermore, the screens swap white for red as an accent color.
Photo: Nissan
Now for the most important part, the Ariya NISMO offers two configurations. The one with the 66 kWh battery generates 362 horsepower (+27) and 413 lb-ft of torque, while the one equipped with the 91 kWh battery climbs to 429 horsepower (+40) and 442 lb-ft. A bit of a shame that the torque doesn’t increase.
A NISMO driving mode is added, offering increased responsiveness to acceleration, and power is controlled by the e-4ORCE all-wheel drive system in all cases. Also, Nissan says it has recreated a sound worthy of Formula E cars, which, quite honestly, we don’t like.
The chassis has been extensively reworked with the aim of improving handling and cornering handling, but unfortunately the company hasn’t really given any more technical details.
Nissan will market the Ariya NISMO in Japan starting this spring. No word on other markets around the planet yet, but The Car Guide Stay tuned for a possible announcement. Such a model would compete with 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).