Nissan’s 2027 LEAF NISMO Puts a Ducktail on the Everyday Electric Hatch

Nissan decided its second-generation LEAF needed a sharper edge. On July 22 the company put the NISMO version on sale in Japan and confirmed the model will reach American showrooms as part of a broader push to expand the performance brand. What arrives is a front-drive electric hatch that keeps the same motors and batteries as the regular car yet feels noticeably different the moment the road starts to twist.

Outside, the changes are pretty obvious right away: the front splitter has two blades and red “arterial magma” inserts that shunt air around the corner, the side cladding lowers the car’s visual center of gravity, and matching red trim runs along the lower body and mirror caps, a nice touch to tie it all together, and the dedicated bumper ends with a ducktail spoiler shaped like the stern of a speedboat. Nissan claims that this design increases downforce without increasing drag. Nineteen-inch Enkei alloy wheels in a black finish are outfitted with 235/45 Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires, which stick significantly better than conventional tires. There are four solid colors and two black roof bi-tones to pick from, one of which is a special Stealth gray designed to go lost on the track.



The power, however, remains same, since the B5 has a 53 kilowatt hour battery and a single motor capable of 174 horsepower. The B7 gains 214 horsepower thanks to a 75 kilowatt-hour battery. The torque ranges between 345 and 355 newton meters, depending on the battery pack. Not unexpectedly, there is no all-wheel drive option; the NISMO Ariya has it covered. Instead of putting additional power into it, the engineers focused on the chassis. New springs, larger anti-roll bars, reinforced bushings, and the X-Trail NISMO’s fancy swing-valve dampers stiffen the body and reduce early body roll. The steering weight has been adjusted so that the front end responds more quickly. A fresh new NISMO driving mode sharpens throttle response by about 20%. Because the top end is stronger than the base car, regenerative brake paddles can now decelerate at four distinct levels.


Inside, it’s mostly black (save for a few “accents”), with red stitching and perforations for texture. The steering wheel is synthetic leather, with a red marking at 12 o’clock. The digital gauges have exclusive NISMO graphics. If you want the Recaro front seats with motorized recline and embroidered logos, which are approximately 44 pounds lighter and significantly better at supporting you laterally, they are available exclusively on the bigger battery model. The exterior measurements are 4,415 millimeters long, 1,810 millimeters wide, and a wheelbase of 2,690 millimeters. Ground clearance has been reduced to 135 millimeters, and the curb weight ranges from 1,820 kilograms for the B5 to 1,920 kilograms for the B7.




In Japan, the B5 starts at 6,601,100 yen (about $40,500) and rises to 7,227,000 yen with the Recaro seats on the 75 kilowatt hour pack. The US price has not yet been published, but it is expected to be comparable to a normal LEAF. Orders commenced in Japan on the same day the car was shown, but the timetable in the United States is still unknown. Interestingly, Nissan has already included it on their global expansion list.