First Nissan Leaf NISMO RC Video Revealed

It’s a race car with a huge wing on the back and a cool-looking body, which we like, but it also has an electric motor, which we don’t like so much. This is a car we were very conflicted about, until we saw this very video that changed our minds: the Nissan Leaf NISMO RC is very cool, electric motor and all.

“Combining the talents of NISMO, Nissan’s world renowned motorsports group, and engineers behind some of the company’s Super GT and FIA GT1 race teams, the Nissan LEAF NISMO RC will serve as a rolling laboratory for the accelerated development of EV and aerodynamic systems, as well as a platform for the development of new green motorsports series,” said Carlos Tavares, chairman, Nissan Americas.

The car is actually built from the ground up, borrowing the Leaf’s powertrain (107 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque) and lithium ion battery pack, but pretty much every other part of the car has been replaced.

The car is now a coupe, which is 40 percent lighter (2.068 lbs or 940 kg), mainly thanks to the use of a carbon fiber monocoque. The racing Leaf is 13.8 inches (35 cm) lower, 6.7-inches (17 cm) wider and 0.8 inches longer (2 cm), with a 3.9-inch shorter wheelbase, coming with a ground clearance lowered from 6.3 to 2.4 inches.

The motorsport-destined EV comes with goodies such as 18-inch rims that use 225/40 Bridgestone racing rubber and a massive rear wing. Unlike the regular Leaf, the car uses a mid-engine-like setup, with the power being sent to the rear wheels.

Despite only having 107 hp at its disposal, the Leaf RC reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 6.85 seconds and has a top speed f 150 km/h (93 mph).