Nissan ZEOD RC prepares for Japan debut
The very latest in electronic car design is set to be unveiled in Japan, but this model is a far cry from the average Nissan eco-vehicle.
On the outside, the ZEOD RC looks like a rocket-fuelled space shuttle and it is set to hit incredible top speeds as a zero emissions on demand racer.
It has been developed as a test model for future electric vehicle technologies from the Japanese manufacturer.
Completed by Nissan's performance arm Nismo in Yokohama, the car took just 33 weeks to develop and build, and chairman and chief executive Carlo Ghosn hopes it will feature in next year's Le Mans 24 Hours event.
The car has now been invited by Automobile Club de l'Ouest to take its place in Garage 56 - where vehicles presenting new and innovative technology will be found.
According to Nissan, the car can complete the whole of the 8.5-mile Le Mans circuit on nothing but electric power. If that wasn't impressive enough, the car can reach blistering speeds of 185mph.
In order to help the vehicle complete the 24-hour endurance test, the car is assisted by a small lightweight turbocharged internal combustion engine. It does share some similarities with its eco-friendly commercial siblings however, as the battery will be the same as what is found in the Nissan LEAF - which is able to recharge through regenerative breaking.
Nismo president Shoichi Miyatani said: “The ZEOD RC utilises our technology gained through the development of the Nissan LEAF Nismo RC, the first EV racer based on the mass production zero emission vehicle.
“The LEAF RC’s energy management and efficient energy recovery system that is suitable for racing are just examples. We believe these technologies serve as important steps for using EV for motor sports.”
This ambitious new model is set to further Nissan's reputation as one of the leading manufacturers when it comes to electric vehicles, designed for the road.
Posted by Sebastian Turkenburg