New Nissan Ariya Nismo coming to the UK with 429bhp and £57k price tag

• Dual-motor with four-wheel drive
• Top-spec model gets 429bhp
• Prices start from £56,620

Nissan’s performance division is returning to the UK with this – the new Nissan Ariya Nismo.  The electric family SUV has been fettled with to produce more power, corner flatter, and look sportier, and sits at the top of the Ariya hierarchy. It gets a price tag to match, too – the Ariya Nismo starts from £56,620, which is practically identical to the original starting price of the Nissan GT-R.

Nismo is the motorsport division of Nissan, much like M is to BMW or N is to Hyundai, having historically applied its engineering magic to road cars such as the Nissan 370Z coupe and the aforementioned GT-R. While a Nismo-badged Nissan Leaf is sold in Japan, the Ariya Nismo will be the first electric car sold in Europe to have been fettled with by the tuning division.

What’s new with the Nissan Ariya Nismo?

The top-spec Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE was already a quick machine, with 388bhp on tap, but the Nismo steps things up a notch with 429bhp. That power is distributed to all four wheels through the same e-4ORCE dual-motor four-wheel drive setup, allowing it to hit 62mph from a standstill “within five seconds”. A less powerful, 362bhp Ariya Nismo will be sold in other markets, but UK customers will only be offered the quicker of the pair.

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Nissan claims to have tweaked every chassis component of the Ariya Nismo too, which should help the electric SUV stay planted along twisty roads. There are new 20-inch wheels, exclusive to the Nismo, fitted with high-performance tyres to transmit that extra power to the tarmac. Both models use four-wheel drive, which should help to further aid traction.

The visual changes on the outside of the Ariya Nismo aren’t just for show; the rear spoiler helps to reduce aerodynamic lift at high speed and the redesigned front bumper features larger air vents for improved cooling. There’s a new rear diffuser too, complete with an F1-esque light in the middle. Red exterior accents replicate the look of past Nismo models, adding to the sporty flair.

What about the Ariya Nismo’s interior?

The red theme continues inside the Ariya Nismo, with matching flashes for the air vents, stitching and steering wheel. There are unique seats for the Nismo model, finished in a dark faux-suede upholstery.

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Drivers will notice a new synthetic driving soundtrack, inspired by Formula E race cars, played through the cabin speakers. This ties into a Nismo-specific driving mode with improved accelerator response over the regular Ariya.

How much will it cost and when can I order one?

The Nissan Ariya Nismo is priced from £56,620 before options, and UK customers will be able to place an order from October 17th. That makes the Ariya Nismo the most expensive model in the lineup now that Nissan has discontinued the £59,000 Ariya Evolve+.

Why not read our top 10 list of the best performance SUVs that you can buy today?