As CES winds down, the Tokyo Auto Salon present can be beginning up. It is kind of the Japanese counterpart to SEMA, that includes aftermarket firms and OEMs displaying off modified vehicles and components. And Nissan can be kicking it off with an unnamed (however seemingly straightforward to guess) Nismo-tuned EV.
The announcement comes through Nissan’s YouTube channel, the place a placeholder video for the reveal stream reveals the reveal time and the fundamentals about it being a Nismo EV. And since we have embedded it on the prime of this put up, remember to come again for the reveal, which can be at 8 p.m. Thursday (tomorrow), January 11. All that is proven within the placeholder is a silhouette of the car.
Seeing as Nissan solely has three EVs on sale, it is not too onerous to guess what that is. One EV, the Leaf, is previous and has had a Nismo mannequin launched in Japan, in order that’s in all probability out. One other, the Sakura kei EV, is a boxy little factor that does not match the silhouette in any respect. In order that leaves the Ariya, which has a curvy, brief nostril that matches the picture effectively.
We have additionally seen spy images of a sporty Nissan Ariya testing on the Nürburgring final fall. So all issues level to the Ariya. It additionally helps twin motors and fairly first rate horsepower numbers as is, so including extra energy together with dealing with upgrades could be an ideal match. The check Ariya we noticed was mildly restyled with a deeper chin spoiler, aspect skirts and a diffuser. It nonetheless had a typical paint scheme, although, which can be spiced up with pink accents or some graphics on the manufacturing mannequin.
Probably the most highly effective Ariya makes a strong 389 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque proper now. It is potential that Nissan and Nismo enhance the output, nevertheless it’s not a assure. The Nismo Leaf solely made as a lot energy because the U.S.-spec Leaf Plus, as an alternative relying extra on its suspension upgrades for improved efficiency. However with much more highly effective competitors from Hyundai, Ford and Chevy, and the truth that extra highly effective motors do not require up to date emissions gear, we might hope that Nissan would add extra grunt to remain aggressive.
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