Nissan Ariya Nismo Debuts As Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Rival

The Ford Mustang Mach-E GT has accumulated some additional competition in the high-performance EV crossover space in recent times, a list that now includes the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Kia EV6 GT. As it works to fill out its own portfolio of all-electric offerings, Nissan debuted the Ariya crossover back in the summer of 2020, albeit one that peaked out at 389 horsepower in top guise. However, that particular model is now getting a big boost in the form of the just-revealed Nissan Ariya Nismo, which is more of a direct rival to the Mach-E GT.

The Nissan Ariya Nismo is currently slated only for the Japanese market, but could very well wind up being sold in other parts of the globe as well. It’s certainly more compelling than the base version, as it builds upon the existing dual-motor variant by adding some more power – up to 429 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque in top guise, coupled with a larger 91 kWh battery to boot, though it will also be sold in a lesser form with 362 horsepower and 413 pound-feet and a 66 kWh battery pack.

On the outside, the Nissan Ariya Nismo follows a similar formula compared to other Nismo models from the automaker, wearing 20-inch wheels and plenty of unique styling cues complemented by red accents, which are also present inside the cabin. The interior gets more heavily-bolstered seats to help keep occupants in place during more sporting driving outings, too.

Other nifty features include a special Nismo driving mode that focuses on making the crossover more responsive, as well as a way to pipe in “engine” sounds that mimic those made by Formula E racers, plus unique suspension tuning. The Nissan Ariya Nismo is currently slated to launch in Japan this coming spring, though for now at least, it’s unclear if or when other markets might follow.

We’ll have more on this and all of Ford’s present and future competition soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for non-stop Ford news coverage.