Tag Archives: Nismo

News

Nissan Targets 10 Nismo Models Worldwide by 2028

Nissan is preparing a significant expansion of its high-performance Nismo sub-brand, confirming plans to double the global Nismo line-up to 10 models as part of a broader strategy to restore profitability and reinvigorate its brand image.

The move sits at the heart of Nissan’s newly announced recovery programme, Re:Power, led by CEO Ivan Espinosa. Alongside cost-cutting and a more regionalised product approach, the strategy leans heavily on halo models to rebuild emotional appeal — a role Nismo is now set to play more prominently than ever.

Beyond increasing the number of models, Nissan also wants Nismo variants to reach a wider audience. Global sales of Nismo cars are expected to rise from around 100,000 units today to 150,000 by 2028, with between 40 and 60 per cent of that growth coming from markets outside Japan. That marks a clear shift for a badge that has traditionally been strongest on home soil.

Exactly which models will receive the Nismo treatment remains unclear. Nissan has offered no guidance on whether future additions will be combustion-powered, fully electric or a mix of both, nor has it confirmed which regions will benefit from the expanded line-up. What it has made clear, however, is a willingness to look beyond its own engineering teams.

The company said it will “actively consider collaborations with external partners” for future Nismo projects, a statement that opens the door to some intriguing possibilities. One such prospect is a Micra Nismo, potentially based on the Alpine A290 — the performance derivative of the Renault 5 — mirroring the relationship between the standard Micra and its Renault sibling.

At present, Nismo’s presence varies widely by market. In the UK, the only Nismo-badged model on sale is the Ariya Nismo, a dual-motor electric SUV positioned as a performance flagship for Nissan’s EV range. Elsewhere, the badge is applied more liberally, appearing on models such as the Z sports car, Skyline saloon, X-Trail SUV and the Patrol off-roader.

The renewed emphasis on Nismo also ties into Nissan’s long-running desire to re-establish clear halo products. In 2023, the firm previewed a potential electric successor to the GT-R with the Hyper Force concept, signalling that outright performance and brand theatre still matter, even in an increasingly electrified future.

Motorsport will continue to underpin that philosophy. Nissan confirmed it will develop a number of prototype vehicles for “racing activities” over the coming year, aimed at accelerating both hardware and software development. These are expected to include experimental machines derived from its Formula E programme, which Autocar has previously reported will play a key role in future road-car technology transfer.

Already active in Formula E and Japan’s Super GT series, Nissan is also evaluating opportunities to expand into new forms of racing, reinforcing the idea that competition will remain central to the Nismo identity.

After several years of heavy losses, the stakes for Re:Power are high. For Espinosa, Nismo is more than just a performance badge — it is a strategic tool. By broadening its reach and sharpening its appeal, Nissan is betting that high-performance, emotionally driven models can once again help define the brand, and pull the wider range forward with them.

Source: Autocar; Photo: Nissan Australia

News

Nissan Plots Formula E-Infused Hot EV Prototypes for Future Nismo Models

Nissan is weighing up an ambitious plan to harness its Formula E expertise to shape the next era of high-performance electric vehicles – with potential prototypes set to lay the groundwork for future Nismo-badged road cars.

In an interview with Autocar, Tommaso Volpe, head of Nissan’s Formula E squad, confirmed that internal discussions are ongoing regarding a potential collaboration between the Paris-based race team and the company’s in-house performance division, Nismo. The goal? To fast-track development of EVs that don’t just go the distance – but do so with thrilling pace and precision.

“Nothing is agreed yet,” Volpe clarified, “but we are considering a proposal to develop prototypes based on standard road-going chassis. These would act as testbeds for Nismo, allowing them to enhance the performance characteristics of electric cars.”

Nissan’s current EV performance offering is limited to the Ariya Nismo, a mildly warmed-up version of its electric SUV. However, senior executives have hinted at much bigger ambitions. Nissan product planning boss Ivan Espinosa previously spoke of “exciting plans” for a future line-up of Nismo EVs, including as many as four or five halo models to spearhead the brand’s performance push.

The proposed tie-up with Formula E could serve as a turning point. Until now, technology transfer between road and race EVs has mostly flowed in one direction – with learnings from production models, like the Leaf, informing race car software development. But that paradigm is expected to shift with the arrival of Formula E’s Gen4 cars in the 2026/27 season.

The Gen4 machines will pack around 800bhp from dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrains – nearly doubling the 469bhp output of today’s racers. More critically, they’ll mirror the drivetrain configurations increasingly found in road EVs, such as the Ariya’s e-4ORCE AWD system.

“This is where we’ll see the real crossover,” Volpe explained. “The performance and efficiency thresholds in Gen4 will be pushed to the limit. With all-wheel drive becoming standard in both racing and consumer EVs, there’s a huge opportunity for us to influence future Nismo products directly.”

The idea is to develop prototype mules that utilise race-bred twin-motor technology and advanced traction control strategies. These testbeds would serve not only as validation platforms but also as inspiration for future production models – potentially unlocking new levels of grip, torque vectoring, and energy management for Nissan’s electrified performance line-up.

According to Volpe, the Gen4 regulations themselves were co-shaped with this kind of synergy in mind: “There was strong pressure from Nissan and other OEMs to make AWD standard. It aligns perfectly with where the EV market is heading.”

While it remains to be seen whether these prototype collaborations will get the official green light, the direction of travel is clear: Nissan wants to fuse its motorsport DNA with its EV future, and Nismo is poised to benefit from the trickle-down of Formula E’s most cutting-edge tech.

If the plans proceed, enthusiasts could soon see Formula E-inspired Nismo EVs that blend race-honed dynamics with road-ready practicality – and potentially reignite the brand’s performance legacy in a fully electric form.

Source: Autocar