Sales of the new Note Aura started this week in Japan and Nissan took the opportunity to announce the Nismo version, which will come exclusively with the company's e-Power hybrid powertrain. It's part of an electrification strategy under the Nissan NEXT global business transformation plan, and while the Note - a model not offered for sale in this country since 2018 - may not make a reappearance in Ireland, the e-Power technology certainly will.
Wheels driven by the electric motor
Nissan's e-Power technology takes a petrol engine and uses it to charge a high-output battery, when necessary, with the wheels driven completely by an electric motor. The benefits of this system are the same high output as an EV without the need for external charging.
As with EVs, huge dollops of torque are available almost instantly, enhancing acceleration, while fuel efficiency is akin to that of conventional hybrids, especially around town.
Not that the school run would be your primary concern in the Note Aura Nismo. From Nissan Motorsports, Nismo is the performance brand of the Japanese company, bringing motorsport-inspired aerodynamics, styling and enhanced handling characteristics to its road cars.
The Aura itself is an upmarket version of the third-generation Note. It features a redesigned front and rear, a wider body and a 100kW/300Nm electric motor.
Nismo spirit and ethos in a Note Aura package
Nissan says the Note Aura Nismo, while based on the regular Note Aura, incorporates the 'Nismo spirit and ethos'.
Aerodynamic tweaks increase downforce and enhancing stability at high speeds, while the Nismo Note also benefits from suspension and body rigidity improvements. The car sits on wide-rim 17-inch alloy wheels.
There are three drive settings. Normal and Eco are for the aforementioned school run or a trip to the shops, being tuned to provide more comfortable driving, but the Nismo mode sharpens things up to offer more response.
Five body colour variations are available, including four two-tone combinations.
Red accents are standard on the otherwise dark-toned interior, with seat covers made from a combination of fabric and synthetic leather, featuring an embroidered Nismo logo and red/grey stitching.
No Note for the Irish market
The first two generations of the Nissan Note were sold in Europe, including Ireland, from 2005 to 2018, but the third generation hasn't made its way to these shores. The fifth-generation Micra effectively replaced the Note in Ireland, with Nissan also offering the Juke SUV, now into a second generation, in its B-segment line-up.