Flagship SUV is Nismo’s first model since 370Z and gets bespoke styling and chassis tweaks
The Nissan Ariya Nimso will hit UK roads early next year, bringing sport cars power and fitted with motorsport-derived aero.
Based on the Ariya e-4orce, the first EV to get the Nismo treatment – and the first Nismo model since the 370Z – gets tuned throttle dynamics, a Nismo driving mode and a raft of more aggressive exterior design touches.
Power, supplied to all four wheels by the same dual-motor set-up as the standard car, has been uprated by 128bhp to 429bhp; torque remains at 443lb ft. That gives the SUV a 0-62mph time of 5sec, 0.1sec faster than the standard car.
This makes it considerably more powerful than the Volkswagen ID 4 GTX but slightly less so than the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT.
The Ariya Nismo draws charge from the same 87kWh battery pack, with range expected to match that of the Ariya e-4orce’s 310 miles.
Nissan says a lot of work has gone into increasing the Ariya’s maximum mechanical grip, thanks to a retuned four wheel-drive system that adjusts the power sent to each wheel 10,000 times per second. The Nismo’s new 60:40 rear-bias gives the Ariya a “sporting feel” compared to the standard car.
Greater agility at high speeds and better body control has been achieved through a reworked suspension set-up and retuned steering. A new ‘Nismo’ driving mode increases throttle and steering response, with an additional ‘i-Booster’ setting added that ups braking performance.
Elsewhere, new aero, created with the help of Nissan’s Formula E team, has been added to give the SUV as much downforce as possible while also reducing drag and smoothing airflow along the body. These include a more prominent front splitter, a vortex generator on the roof, deeper side skirts and rear bumpers, and a ducktail spoiler.
The cabin is largely the same as the standard car’s, albeit with body-hugging Nismo-branded sports seats trimmed in suede and red pinstriping.
European deliveries will begin in January. Pricing will start above that of the £59,025 e-4orce Evolve+, the line-up’s current range-topper.
