Nissan builds LEAF racer

Nissan has decided to take its zero-emissions quest from the road to the track with a racing version of the LEAF which will debut at the 2011 New York International Auto Show on April 20th. 

The LEAF NISMO RC (Racing Competition) takes much of its DNA from its road-going counterpart, including the zero-emission powertrain which draws juice from a lithium-ion battery. This generates 107 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque which doesn’t sound like much for a racer, but unlike other competition car the LEAF NISMO RC has no tailpipe and no CO2 emissions. Great news for the environment, maybe not so much for race fans who probably aren’t so keen to watch completely silent motorsport.

Nissan say that the LEAF NISMO RC’s also contains the production cars quick charge feature which allows 80 percent of battery capacity to be reached with a 30 minute charge. Preliminary testing has revealed a 0 to 62 mph acceleration time of 6.85 seconds and a top speed of 93 mph. This allows a running time of approximately 20 minutes meaning pit stops will be frequent and long.

Carlos Tavares, chairman of Nissan Americas, said “Combining the talents of NISMO, Nissan’s world renowned motorsports group, and engineers behind some of the company’s Super GT and FIA GT1 race teams, the Nissan LEAF NISMO RC will serve as a rolling laboratory for the accelerated development of EV and aerodynamic systems, as well as a platform for the development of new green motorsports series.”

Design differences from the production LEAF include a full carbon fibre monocoque bodywork, modified dimensions and rear-wheel drive instead of front. The RC’s two-door exterior - created by Nissan Global Design Center in Japan - features a three-piece bodywork, removable front and rear sections, fixed windows, LED headlights and taillights and adjustable rear wing. The racer is also 0.8 inches longer, 6.7 inches wider, 13.8 inches lower, has a 3.9-inch shorter wheelbase and at 2,068 pounds weighs 40 percent less than the road-legal LEAF. A double-wishbone suspension setup is also used as well as driver adjustable brake balance.           

There are no plans for the LEAF NISMO RC to actually race competitively any time soon, with Nissan saying that the vehicle will most likely only ‘make a series of special demonstration appearances at various motorsports venues in 2011.’