Nissan Ariya Nismo officially launched in Japan

After unveiling the Ariya Nismo back in January, Nissan officially ioened sales for the spiced-up Ariya in Japan.

With extra power and more aggressive styling, the new version of the popular electric SUV is available to order with deliveries scheduled for June this year.

Nissan hypes the Ariya Nismo as a flagship EV, and the specs back it up. You can choose between a 66 kWh or 91 kWh battery, matching the conventional Ariya. The Nismo versions should also come fairly close to its 205 miles and 272 miles EPA-rated ranges then.

The two versions of NISMO are rated at 270 kW and 320 kW of power respectively. The e-4ORCE drivetrain has been tuned by NISMO engineers and promises a more involved driving experience. The torque figures remain unchanged when compared to standard Ariya - 413 lb-ft in the base NISMO, and up to 443 lb-ft with the larger battery.

These numbers don't lie: NISMO has indeed given the Ariya some extra oomph, but remember, this is still a hefty crossover weighing well over two metric tons. And while Nissan talks a lot about NISMO's tuning, a few tweaks to the e-4ORCE four-wheel drive don't magically turn a soccer mom car into a track superstar. Although sub-5 seconds 0 to 62 mph sprint can hardly be called sluggish.

The exterior is the classic Nismo ordeal: sporty bumpers, a rear spoiler, some exclusive colors like Stealth Gray with a black roof, and of course the ubiquitous red accent stripe. Nissan claims this improves aerodynamics, but at moderate speeds, you're as likely to benefit from a set of fuzzy dice. The interior is where things get more interesting with upgraded seats, red accents, and even a special Nismo driving mode boasting "Formula E inspired" sounds. Because what electric cars truly lack is artificial engine noise, right?

The prices in Japan start at over 8 million yen (around $60,000) which is quite attractive - especially when you compare it to European prices for standard Ariya models. Undoubtedly it’ll cost significantly more when it finally hits other markets. Just as a reminder - Tesla Model Y Performance comes at $62,130, it is quicker and it offers more space for passengers. Or add some more cash and go for the utterly bonkers Hyundai Ioniq 5 N - school runs will never be the same.

The Nissan Ariya Nismo is a textbook example of an automaker milking an existing nameplate for extra profit. Then again, the Ariya is a very good electric SUV as we found out in our review, so if you have cash to burn and want to add some performance then why not.

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