Nissan has announced a new performance trim level of the Ariya at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2024 show this week: Meet the Ariya NISMO. It’s a more powerful, sporty, and body kit-clad version of the company’s only modern BEV offering and, for now, it will be limited to sale in the Japanese market.

The Ariya NISMO offers marginally higher output than the standard version of the car, with 320 kW (~430 hp) of power and 600 Nm (~440 lb-ft) of torque. Other changes are largely aesthetic, though Nissan really wants you to buy in to the idea that a set of fancy rims make the Ariya handle appreciably better, saying “highly rigid 20-inch aluminum wheels generates superior stability and turn-in ability as well as better line-tracing and enhanced cornering ability at high speeds.” OK!

A special NISMO drive mode is added to the car that enhances acceleration and responsiveness, with a new artificial cabin noise apparently inspired by the sound of Formula E race cars. That sound is demoed in the video below. It certainly sounds… spacey.


On the inside, you’ll be treated to NISMO seats and trim, presumably meaning gratuitous red piping (not that that’s a bad thing, necessarily).

There’s no word if the Ariya NISMO will be sold in the US or other markets globally, or how much more it will cost when it goes on sale in Japan this spring. The NISMO trim will be available for both battery capacity variants of the Ariya (66 kWh and 91 kWh), with slight differences in peak power output.