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What happens when Nissan re-imagines its Leaf EV’s internals into a “sports car of the future,” inspired by its long line of Z cars? You’re looking at it. Nissan will show this Esflow concept at the Geneva Auto Show, and, based on the reaction it receives, they’ll consider a production model. Though it uses Leaf electronics, the Esflow is being presented on a “bespoke” RWD platform, with a pair of electric motors driving the rear wheels. And the Leaf’s battery was likely improved upon for this concept, as Nissan claims about 150 miles of range and a sub-5 second 0-60 time.
19 Comments on “What’s Wrong With This Picture: Leaf Meets Z Edition...”
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Truly the Anti-CR-Z…right down to those non-existent overhangs. That profile screams fun-to-drive.
Here here, there is the styling, and also the reported fact that this critter can beat a Honda Fit or a mid-nineties-era base-level Accord to sixty. Another fun limitation of Honda’s halo sports hybrid.
Except the headlights, I love the concept.
Excellent. Tesla Roadster for the masses – I knew that day would come.
Just make it on an alloy frame with plastic body panels and I’m sold.
Hey, it’s a Leaf that doesn’t make me throw up in my mouth when I see it!
I’d love it more if it were available with a regular ICE engine, as a revival of the SX.
Cool!
Nissan would be smart to make this a dual purpose design, offer one all electric model and another with a conventional engine (like the one from the Juke) for a nice rebirth of the 240SX which I loved and miss so dearly.
Perfect.
There would be the…
240SX (with an ICE), and the…
240SeX (with the electric motors).
I think it’d sell like hotcakes.
@Domestic Hearse
240SeX: Lol lmao :D
Making a bespoken platform for an electric car is much easier than for an ICE so i seriously doubt that it would make economic sense to make an ICE powered RWD
Want.
That is all.
Nice lines. Reminds me of the Cheetah – https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/09/the-cobra-and-the-cheetah-a-muscle-car-tale-part-two/#more-365071
150 real-world miles from 24kwh likely requires a very lightweight, low-slung aerodynamic car. Those characteristics also will help performance.. my guess is they’re probably targeting < 2000 lbs weight with the concept, which may be tricky in a full production car. See the concept-favorite LCD cameras replacing the side mirrors.
Calls to mind the Saab Aero-X concept:
http://4carpictures.com/saab-aero-x-concept.html/saab_aero_x_concept
With one electric motor for each rear wheel, they could do some steering by torque vectoring. Combined with the low center of gravity, it would make for some wicked handling.
RWD doesn’t make sense for an electric (or hybrid) vehicle – for effective regenerative braking you need electric generators attached to the front wheels – and once you’ve got those there, there is no reason not to use them as motors as well, so it should be AWD. If nobody has worked that out yet, those numbers were just pulled out of someone’s ass. Beautiful, though.
Sport cars are not meant to be super efficient but fun to drive. RWD it is then
A FWD sports car doesn’t make any sense. Don’t forget that the CRZ is an epic failure.
Tron!