Nissan Wants to 'Enhance' Its Performance EVs. So It's Turning to an Unlikely Source

Nissan wants to borrow tech from Formula E race cars.

Photo by: Nissan

By: Anthony Alaniz

Aug 5, 2025 at 3:00pm ET

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Nissan's future remains murky as the struggling Japanese automaker attempts to fix its financial outlook. That future could include new Nismo models designed with the help of Nissan's Formula E team.

Tommaso Volpe, the head of Nissan's electric racing outfit, revealed the possibility to Autocar in a recent interview. He told the publication that the automaker is considering developing "prototypes" that can help Nismo "enhance the performance of electric cars." However, Nissan hasn't made any official decision.

Volpe added that the upcoming Gen4 Formula E cars, for 2026-2027, could provide the potential for transferring technology from electric race cars to future road-going products. The Gen4 cars will feature all-wheel drive with two electric motors producing around 800 horsepower, as per regulations written in collaboration with participating manufacturers, including Nissan.

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That's more power than what the Ariya Nismo makes. The crossover is a twin-motor AWD electric vehicle, but it produces just 420 hp, and Nissan doesn't even sell it in America. More power and expertise from the racing side can't hurt future electric Nismos, if people want them.

Developing prototypes for future road-going Nismo models based on 800-hp race cars could result in something great, but such ideas are often watered down for the masses before production begins. However, as exciting as Nismo is for consumers and the brand, Nissan has other things to focus on first.