Will Nissan Please Bring the Ariya NISMO to America?

The Nissan Ariya is a pleasantly quick and modern electric crossover. Nissan recently showed off an Ariya NISMO variant that’s headed to Japan, and I hope they decide to bring it to the U.S. sometime soon. This special variant of the EV has sporty aesthetics and performance upgrades to make it even more nimble.

Based on the Ariya e-4ORCE, the NISMO version has additional aerodynamic features to reduce drag and increase downforce. It rolls on 20-inch black aluminum wheels for looks as well as improved ride stability and cornering. The upgraded NISMO ground effects include a bold red line that makes the model stand out even more.

The NISMO performance tuning team managed to eke an extra 10 percent peak output from the Ariya’s dual motors. The NISMO B6 e-4ORCE offers 362 horsepower and 413 lb-ft. of torque using a 66 kWH battery, while the NISMO B9 e-4ORCE makes 429 horsepower and 442 lb-ft. of torque with its bigger 91 kWh battery pack. Both variants have a special NISMO drive mode, which produces a Formula E-inspired sound through the car’s speakers.

The NISMO treatment carries across to the cabin of the crossover. Its sport-bolstered bucket seats combine leather, fabric, and microsuede surfaces to reduce slipping when cornering. You’ll also find red accents on the dashboard, storage bin, and door panels. I can’t quite tell what that red thing is under the center of the dashboard, though. I think it’s some kind of ambient light source.

Deliveries of the Ariya NISMO start this spring in Japan. However, at this point, Nissan has announced no plans to bring the Ariya NISMO to America. I’m holding out hope that they will since I think it looks fantastic, and I always want the quickest variant of a vehicle I can get my hands on.