Electric vehicles (EVs) have come a long way in a short space of time. However, if you’re one of those people that still thinks they’re slow, boring and expensive then you haven’t been paying attention.
Yes, sluggish and dull EVs do exist – we’re looking at you, Citroen C-Zero and Renault Kangoo Z.E – but these pricey low volume models emerged during the technology’s infancy and provide little accurate indication of what modern EVs can do.
These days, the mention of electric vehicles is likely to conjure up supercar-tinged thoughts of the Tesla Model S or economical hybrids like Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV.
What really triggered this mindshift was the Nissan Leaf, which burst onto UK roads as the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2011. It looked and drove like nothing else, providing more than 100 miles of comfy, practical, pure electric motoring with no nasty emissions coming out the back-end.
A critical and commercial success, the Leaf is clearly here to stay and its popularity has blossomed to the point that the range demands to be fleshed out. We’ve had the e-NV200, an all-electric panel van built on the Leaf’s underpinnings, but many would rather see Nissan take the car in a performance direction. They may soon have their wishes granted after Nissan’s EV bods hinted that a pepped-up Leaf could be in the works.
The Leaf Nismo RC (Racing Competition) concept car from 2011 showed what Nissan could do with the technology and lessons from that car could trickle down to influence a go-faster Leaf.
The car was constructed as a real racing machine, with full carbon fibre monocoque bodywork, which means it is superlight and super aerodynamic, with initial tests seeing it dart to 62mph in 6.85 seconds.
Anyone that has driven the standard Leaf will tell you that its instant torque and smooth acceleration makes it deceptively nippy and certainly more eager than its 11.5 second 0-62mph time would suggest. But there are quicker alternatives out there such as VW’s eGolf (10.4s) and BMW’s i3 (7.3s), so the performance of the concept – which is five years old, remember – seems promising.
Compared to the conventional Leaf, the race car was 0.8 inches longer and 6.7 inches wider, despite a wheelbase that was almost four inches. However, its height was the biggest dimensional change, sitting at more than a foot lower (13.8 inches), with a 2.4 inch ground clearance (previously 6.3 inches).
Weighing 938kg, it was around 40 per cent lighter than the production Leaf too so its power output needn’t be mega, boasting a modest 107bhp, the same as a 1.2-litre Kia Rio.
So what chances have we of ever seeing a Leaf Nismo in Nissan showrooms? Quite favourable, it seems.
Speaking to Car Magazine, Gareth Dunsmore, director of EV Nissan Europe, said: “I was part of the team that brought Nismo to Europe on Juke and I was very proud to do that. We learnt a lot working very closely with our Nismo colleagues.
“In Japan, we have a special-edition Leaf called the Leaf Aero Style, which is a more sporty package. One thing we certainly need to do is challenge perceptions and that’s also what Bladeglider is here to do – to challenge those perceptions.”
Take from that what you will.
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