► Ariya Nismo price announced
► 429bhp and Formula E sound
► Nissan’s only Nismo in Europe
First revealed at the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon as a Japan-only model, the Nissan Ariya Nismo has now been priced and is available to pre-order in the UK. With a name like that, it ought to be one of the sportiest electric SUVs on the market. But we have out doubts.
In fact, the Ariya Nismo is intended to help mark the 40th anniversary of Nissan’s performance and racing arm. It will now be the only model equipped with the Nismo badge in Europe, the GT-R Nismo have now been discontinued in the region. Nissan’s new Z Nismo is not being sold in Europe, either.
What’s the price of the Ariya Nismo then?
No sugaring the pill, the Ariya Nismo costs from £56,620. That is only £1,780 more than the previously range-topping Ariya Evolve, and the difference includes upgrading the painfully named e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive system offered on both cars from 301bhp to 429bhp. So comparatively speaking it doesn’t seem bad value, and actually cheaper than the £65k we were initially projecting.
However, it’s also still not very fast for a performance flagship in 2024, with 0-62mph taking five whole seconds it seems. The 50-70mph in 2.4sec, however, is said to be quicker than the R35 Nismo can manage. In that specific moment up to the UK motorway limit, it’s lightning.
What’s different about the Nismo Ariya?
As you’d expect from a Nismo, Nissan has been over the exterior with a red marker pen to emphasise the bodykit, which includes chunky front and rear bumpers plus side skirts. There’s also a motorsport-inspired central rear fog light. The red carries on inside, across the dashboard, centre console and door cards, and stitched into the heavily bolstered seats.
In Japan, there have been two power variants: a ‘B6’ model developing 362bhp and the ‘B9’ variant pushing out 429bhp. The UK is only getting the faster model. A new Nismo driving mode can be activated inside the car, giving a performance boost and a Formula E-inspired soundtrack to match.
The e-4ORCE system, meanwhile, is combined with what’s described as ‘finely tuned suspension’ for ‘a superb drive no matter the weather’. The steering is said to be more direct and engaging, too.
And just in case that’s not enough to get people flocking into dealerships, Nissan is offering the first 100 customers in the UK a limited-edition Ariya Nismo print by Juan Alcalá Lara, who also does the artwork for Nissan’s Formula E team.
First deliveries are set for early 2025. We’re not sure the extraordinary Hyundai Ioniq 5 N will be losing much sleep over the Ariya’s arrival, but that is considerably more expensive as well.
What do you reckon: a worthy new Nismo nameplate or not enough effort in a world where the Ioniq 5 N now exists? We’ll see…