The Nissan Leaf Nismo RC debuted in 2018 as a promotional car to show off the brand’s EV tech.
Get ready sports car fans. As early as 2027, Nissan looks set to release the most exciting coupe since the all-new Z surfaced in 2022. But the new EV will look like a futuristic Z, be fully electric, and get this, it’ll be based on a souped up Leaf.
So where is this new EV coming from? Some 60% of the brand’s internal combustion engine (ICE) models are to be refreshed by fiscal 2026. To meet customer needs, Nissan also says it will produce a mix of 27 new electrified vehicles and 19 new pure electric cars by 2030.
The new EV coupe would be based on the RC but not inherit its carbon fiber monocoque structure.
But by 2026, it plans to debut 5 new EVs, one of which will be the new electric sports car mentioned here. The exciting part of this electric story is that Nissan are now planning to launch its new electric sports car based on Leaf Nismo RC, a car that was originally launched in 2018 to promote the brand’s EV technology. Some six prototypes were made and shipped around the world to show off the brand’s zero emission sporting prowess.
Nismo is Nissan’s in-house customizing studio that also runs the brand’s racing unit, and RC stands for ‘racing competition.’ But don’t expect the new EV to inherit that name. Nissan will hopefully come up with something more appealing. And don’t expect the new EV coupe to adopt the same construction as the Leaf Nismo RC. Because it’s rather special.
A quick run through the RC’s details shows that it has a total curb weight of only 2,690 lbs thanks to a full carbon fiber racing monocoque structure in addition to numerous lightweight components. It boasts twin 120 kW motors — one forward and one aft — that pump out 322 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to its excellent power-to-weight ratio and 4WD powertrain, the RC can jump from zero to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds, making it as fast as many supercars.
Nissan’s new EV should employ a 400-hp powertrain and 4WD.
But to produce a road-going electric sports car using the RC’s carbon fiber construction would make the price prohibitive. So we can expect Nissan to do away with that carbon fiber monocoque and replace it with a more conventional Leaf-like chassis, specially designed for EVs but keep the 4WD powertrain and battery layout.
We are hearing from Japan’s biggest selling car magazine Best Car, that Nissan is planning a 2027 launch for the new EV two-door. But that date may be delayed to coincide with the opening of the brand’s new solid state battery factory in Kyushu, southern Japan. Nissan would ideally like to deliver the new EV coupe to market with around 400 hp — equalling the Z’s output — which will require a significant boost over the RC’s power reading. That may be attained by the new solid state batteries which could offer more power, while reducing weight and cost.
For EV advocates, yes, an all-new Leaf is in the pipeline, but what car enthusiasts look forward to is a new electric coupe that looks the part and does not break the bank. Nissan is planning a new electric GT-R, with 4WD, around 1300 hp, and a price tag well north of $100,000, so for a new electric sports car to join the lineup, the new RC-based coupe would have to come in at around $60,000 or under.
