UPDATE: Nissan responded to Motor1 about it bringing the Ariya Nismo to the US, and its not coming here anytime soon. The company said in a statement, “This is a very exciting time in Nissan’s electrification journey in our region and we are constantly looking ahead to ensure we bring our customers the best products and experiences. For the time being, the car will only be available in the Japanese market. We have no further announcements at this stage regarding introduction of this car to other markets.”
Following the GT-R, Z, and Japan-only Skyline, Nissan introduces its fourth Nismo model, which ditches the internal combustion engine. The Nissan Ariya Nismo debuted today at the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon – and it's not just for show; the sportier body kit is accompanied by an actual power bump.
Nissan plans to offer the Ariya Nismo in two variants in Japan. The base model belts out a combined output of 362 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, generated by a pair of electric motors drawing power from a 66.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack. Opt for the beefier variant, and power increases to 430 hp and 443 lb-ft, with a larger battery capacity of 91.0 kilowatt-hours.
2024 Nissan Ariya Nismo
Being an electric SUV, the Ariya Nismo isn't exactly lightweight. It tips the scales at 4,587 pounds for the lightest version while the heaviest configuration weighs as much as 4,894 lbs. Oddly enough, there's no word from Nissan about performance. However, we can safely assume the 430-hp variant is quicker to 60 mph than the previous most powerful version, which did the sprint in 4.8 seconds thanks to 389 hp while packing the same 443 lb-ft.
Nissan is going to fit the JDM-spec Ariya in Nismo flavor with new "highly rigid" 20-inch wheels wrapped in bespoke 255/45 R20 tires at both axles. The Japanese marque promises better handling and higher speeds while cornering. In addition, there's now a dedicated Nismo driving mode for quicker throttle response, which can be optionally accompanied by an artificial soundtrack derived from Formula E.
Coming after the likes of Kia EV6 GT and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (but with far less power), the Nissan Ariya Nismo gets discreet interior tweaks with chunkier front seats, red accents, and Nismo branding.
The flagship Ariya will go on sale in Japan this spring, and we've reached out to Nissan to see if this sporty EV is coming to the United States.
