Nissan Says Ariya NISMO EV Will Hit 100 km/h in 5 Seconds

During the unveiling, Nissan released all the relevant powertrain figures, but didn’t share any performance numbers with us, until today.

To recap, the NISMO-tuned powertrain delivers 429 hp (435 ps) and an impressive 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque. In a straight line, the Ariya NISMO will accelerate from zero to 62 mph (100 kph) in 5 seconds flat, which stands to reason that its 0-60 mph (96 kph) time will be in the high 4-second range – probably 4.8 or 4.9 seconds.

Meanwhile, going from 50 mph to 70 mph (80-120 kph) will take just 2.4 seconds, which is properly quick and worthy of any vehicle with 400+ horsepower. Merging onto a freeway should feel like a breeze.

Now, according to Nissan, the Ariya NISMO isn’t just about straight-line speed. Because of its several enhancements, it can achieve greater turning and lateral forces than even the GT-R NISMO, which is wild to think about. The crossover’s specially tuned 4WD system will maximize mechanical grip by adjusting the power sent to each wheel 10,000 times per second.

Then there’s the new 60:40 rear-bias, offering a more dynamic feel compared to the regular Ariya e-4ORCE variant.

Speaking of mechanics, the suspension boasts revised stabilizers, spring rates and shock absorber settings, while the retuned steering adds increased resistance, and the i-Booster system increases braking performance thanks to its revised regeneration tuning.

Moving on to the interior, you can tell this is a NISMO product straight away. The seats and trimmed in a suede-like material and feature NISMO logos. You also get new digital gauge designs and red stitching on the steering wheel, along with signature NISMO-red accents throughout the cabin.

Sales for the Nissan Ariya NISMO are expected to commence in January 2025. This performance-oriented EV will be sold in all European markets (where the regular Ariya is already available), except for Cyprus, Malta and Northern Ireland. It’s also on sale in its home market of Japan, obviously. Whether it’ll come to the U.S. or not, the jury is still out.
Alternatives
The performance EV crossover market has grown so much in recent years that you can easily find a whole bunch of direct rivals to the likes of the Ariya NISMO. The most obvious one is the Tesla Model Y Performance, followed by the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, the Kia EV6 GT, and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

Upcoming alternatives will include the Porsche Macan EV and the Polestar 3, although both are larger and might end up being considerably more expensive to purchase.