Nissan confirms Leaf-based sports concept for New York show

(Nissan)

Nissan is to show a sporty reimagining of its all-electric Leaf compact at this week's New York International Auto Show.

Dubbed the NISMO RC, the prototype is a collaboration between Nissan's motorsports group and engineers from some of the company's Super GT and FIA GT1 race teams and will take to the tracks for several demonstrations at motorsports tracks around the world this year, according to the Japanese automaker.

On the surface, the model looks nothing like a Leaf, with a low-slung carbon fiber body built using removable front and rear sections - but underneath, the propulsion vehicle is almost exactly the same.

The battery pack has been moved, presumably to optimize handling, but it's identical to that of the Leaf, with 48 lithium-ion modules hooked up to an 80kW motor that generates 107 horsepower.

This can move the NISMO RC from 0-100 km/h in 6.85 seconds and gives it a top speed of 150 km/h, helped by the vehicle's weight, which at 2,068 pounds (938 kg) is some 40 percent lighter than the Leaf.

The vehicle will be on display at this week's New York International Autoshow, alongside plenty of other models including the Mazda Minagi, which was confirmed for production April 18.

The Minagi, a near-complete concept model first showcased at March's Geneva Motor Show, will be called the Mazda CX-5, the Japanese automaker confirmed, and will be in showrooms by next year, joining the brand's other crossovers such as the CX-7 and CX-9.

The CX-5 is set to be the smallest of the CX series and will be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The New York International Auto Show runs April 22 - May 1 at the Jacob K Javits Convention Center in New York City.

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