Are Electric Sports Cars in Nissan’s Future?

The question is, can both interests collide? Is Nissan going to work on full electric sports cars? Based on models Nissan has toyed with, like the Nissan Leaf Nismo RC Electric racer, the answer is absolute. But exactly when we get to drive one is a whole other mystery.

Older Plans: BladeGlider

Nissan has, at least, seriously considered full electric vehicles since the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, where they revealed a concept car called the BladeGlider. This narrow, three-seat, triangular convertible had a sidecar-like cockpit that thinned much like a racecar. There was just enough room to fit the driver in the front and had two seats in the back. The doors opened diagonally and out, like the wings of an insect. Needless to say, it drew interest for its appearance, but that was just the beginning.

When the BladeGlider made its appearance, the automaker called it an “upcoming production vehicle that demonstrated the innovation and excitement of the Nissan brand and Nissan’s leadership in zero-emissions mobility.” Its design was inspired by sports cars, but with a futuristic outlook. What this model could achieve, however, we may never know, as the BladeGlider hasn’t made another appearance.

It’s expected that a body of that type, with sufficient power, would have the type of cornering and acceleration expected in sports cars. However, with an efficient and rechargeable set of independently-managed electric motors as the sole source of power to the rear wheels, the combination could be something fascinating on typical highways.

Newer Plans: Sports Car and Crossover

As is common in the design process, Nissan started with a more complete idea and is now announcing a new model without any visuals yet. They’re focusing on describing the platform; one built to perfectly handle both internal combustion and full electric powertrains. Design chief Shiro Nakamura said it would be a viable platform for electric sports cars, so the dream seems to be even closer to fruition.

Nakamura made it clear, “We don’t want to limit our EVs just to the Leaf,” in an interview with Auto Express. In addition to the possibility of electric sports cars, a full electric crossover was also briefly discussed. However, Nakamura said we’d have to expect about five years before a vehicle worthy of their standards would be out, based on this new platform. Other automakers could be releasing their own electric crossover possibilities by that time, and seeing several new options show up at once could cause a big wave soon after.

Nissan is the leading electronic vehicle manufacturer, and it’s clear the Leaf is just the beginning of their successes in this growing market. If you have any questions about Nissan EV models like the Leaf, contact us by phone or email anytime, or visit us on the lot.

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