Electrifying Hot Laps

OPPAMA, Japan - It has already been called the future of motor racing. The Nissan LEAF Nismo RC - all-electric, zero emission, all the performance.

Owners of the Nissan LEAF, invited to Japan to celebrate the second anniversary of the day the innovative car went on sale, experienced laps in the racing car at the GranDrive test track.

The powertrain is a 100% zero emission, with an advanced lithium-ion battery pack, just like that found on the world’s first affordable mass market electric vehicle.

The race car features a 3.9-inch (10 cm) shorter wheelbase, is 0.8 inches longer and 6.7 inches wider. The most dramatic difference is height, with the NISMO RC sitting more than a foot (13.8 inches) lower than the production Nissan LEAF.

Ground clearance is limited to 2.4 inches, compared to 6.3 inches for the road going car. And, at 2,068 pounds (960 kg), the race car weighs in at about 40 percent less than the production vehicle.

That means the Nissan LEAF Nismo RC is a little quicker than the road-going car, as the Nissan LEAF owners found out.

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