Nissan's pledged to double its lineup of Nismo models globally in the coming years, and the opening salvo in that performance assault has now been fired, at least in concept form at this year's Tokyo Auto Salon. This is the Aura Nismo RS Concept, and while it's not a hot Skyline GT-R revival like fans have been clamoring for, it is a preview of a widebody hot hatch that Nissan says it is actively exploring production potential for.
Nissan describes the concept as an evolution of the original Aura Nismo's "Agile Electric City Racer" image, but don't think that means this is an EV. No, it's a hybrid, but instead of just packing the standard car's e-Power hybrid system, it gets a heart transplant from one of its bigger, more powerful siblings.
A Rogue Heart For A Hybrid Era
That heart comes from the Nissan X-Trail e-Power, or, as it's known to Americans, the forthcoming Rogue e-Power. Nissan calls this powertrain a high-output version of its e-Power hybrid setup. Just how high is high-power? Well, the Aura Nismo RS is playing in Civic Type R territory, and then some.
The 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine used here is partnered with a front and rear electric motor setup, acting as a generator rather than directly driving the wheels. The engine itself produces 142 horsepower, but the electric motors exceed that by a big margin. The front motor puts out 201 ponies and the rear 134, resulting in a combined output of 335 hp. Torque outputs front and rear are equally as generous, at 243 lb-ft and 144 lb-ft, respectively.
Nissan Aura Nismo RS Concept Specifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Front Motor | Power | 201 hp |
| Torque | 243 lb-ft | |
| Rear Motor | Power | 134 hp |
| Torque | 144 lb-ft | |
| Combined Outputs | Power | 335 hp |
| Torque | 387 lb-ft | |
| ICE Generator | Configuration | 1.5-liter turbo inline-3 |
| Power / Torque | 142 hp / 184 lb-ft | |
| Dimensions (L / W / H) | 167.8 in / 74.0 in / 58.5 in | |
| Weight | 3,285 lbs | |
That two-motor hybrid system gives this hot hatch electric all-wheel drive, but the combustion engine generator means the battery can be kept nice and small, meaning it doesn't suffer the weight penalty of electric cars. There's still a 220-pound increase over the standard Aura Nismo, putting this at 3,285 lbs, but with 335 hp on tap, that shouldn't hamper it at all.
Widebody Design, Bigger Brakes, And Lowered Suspension
The big thing everyone will notice about the Aura Nismo RS Concept is its beefed-up styling. That's because it's got a suspension drop of nearly a full inch (20mm) and the fenders have been blown out by a total of 5.7 inches (that's above average, we promise). The concept sports a new front end design with a red front spoiler and airflow-optimized front fenders, while the rest of the body kit incorporates side skirts, a new rear diffuser, and a sizable rear wing that gives the GR Corolla a run for its money.
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This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.
