Nissan Ariya Nismo to arrive in UK next year with 429bhp

The Nissan Ariya Nismo will hit UK roads early next year, bringing sport cars power and motorsport-derived aerodynamics.

Based on the Ariya e-4orce, it gets tuned throttle dynamics, a Nismo driving mode and a raft of more aggressive exterior design touches.

Power, supplied to all four wheels by the same two motors as in the standard car, has been uprated by 128bhp to 429bhp, although torque remains at 443lb ft.

This makes it considerably more powerful than the Volkswagen ID 4 GTX but slightly less so than the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT.

The 87kWh battery pack also remains unchanged, so range is expected to match that of the Ariya e-4orce at 310 miles.

Nissan said a lot of work went into increasing the Ariya’s maximum mechanical grip, thanks to a retuned four wheel-drive system that adjusts the power sent to each wheel 10,000 times per second.

The Ariya Nismo’s new 60:40 rear bias gives it a “sporting feel” compared with the standard car.

Greater agility at high speeds and better body control has been achieved through a reworked suspension set-up and retuned steering.

The Nismo driving mode increases throttle and steering response, while an additional i-Booster setting strengthens braking performance.

The new aero, created with the help of Nissan’s Formula E race team, has been added to give the Ariya Nismo as much downforce as possible while also reducing drag and smoothing airflow along the body.

It includes a more prominent front splitter, a vortex generator on the roof, deeper side skirts and rear bumpers and a ducktail spoiler.

The cabin is largely the same as the standard Ariya's, albeit with body-hugging Nismo-branded sports seats trimmed in suede with red pinstripes.