Nismo, Nissan’s high-performance tuning division, has confirmed that it will not exclusively focus on electric vehicles (EVs), despite Nissan’s broader push toward electrification.
Pierre Loing, Nissan’s global product manager, revealed in an interview with Top Gear that while Nissan is heavily investing in EVs and has phased out development of new petrol and diesel engines, Nismo is taking a more measured approach.
"Nismo does not have a specific goal of going electric," Loing said.
Nismo Stays Flexible
While the EV market continues to expand rapidly, Loing described the current state as a "chaotic environment" that requires Nissan to stay adaptable.
Unlike Nissan’s main lineup, Nismo is not tied to the same electrification deadlines, leaving room for future petrol-powered models.
For now, Nismo continues to focus on Nissan's E-Power system, which uses a gasoline engine to generate electricity for an electric motor. This hybrid technology is seeing success in Europe, where more than half of Nissan Qashqai models sold use E-Power.
The Future of Nismo Electric Cars
When asked about Nismo’s plans for electric vehicles, Loing remained cautious.
The Nissan Ariya, an electric crossover, poses challenges for Nismo due to its price point.
With an expected cost of $84,000–$91,000, the price elasticity for an Ariya Nismo is limited, especially since the performance boost is only 41 horsepower over the standard model.
Despite the growing shift towards electrification, Loing reassured enthusiasts that there’s still room for Nismo’s petrol-powered cars.
"If you had asked me about the company's electric car plans a few years ago, I would have given you a different answer," Loing admitted.
