The 63-horsepower electric vehicle has a sport mode.
Nissan announced its intention to launch an electric kei vehicle in Japan with the IMk design in October 2019. Fast forward to May 2022 and the production version is here. It’s named Sakura after a local cherry bloom. This will be the company’s entry-level electric vehicle (EV) in terms of size and pricing. It has a turning radius of only 4.8m (15.7ft), and is ready to conquer the urban jungle of the Land of the Rising Sun.
This little hatchback is a bit like the IMkbefore. The funky wheels are inspired by the Japanese mizuhiki decorative loops. Sakura was developed as a kei vehicle and must adhere to certain dimensions. It measures only 3,395 mm (133.6 in) in length, 1,475mm (58.8 in) wide and 1,655mm (65.1 in tall). The wheelbase measures 2,495mm (98.2 inches), which is quite large in comparison to its overall length.
How did this happen? This was possible by using an electric car platform that minimizes overhangs and increases the distance between axles to provide more interior legroom. The Nissan Sakura is a large kei vehicle. You can see this by the length of its rear doors. It can hold four people and has a volume of 107 liters (3.77 cubic ft). It is also the lightest EV on the market, weighing in at 1,070 kg (2,358 lb) in its base configuration, while fully loaded adds 10 kg (22 lb).
The zero-emissions electric kei car’s heart is an electric motor that produces a respectable 63 horsepower (47kW) and 195 Newton meters (144 pound-feet of torque). Although you won’t set any Nurburgringlap records using the Sakura the top speed of 81 mph (135 km/h), will be sufficient for the small city where the EV will spend most its time.
The tiny hatch has a lithium-ion pack that Nissan engineers have fitted with 20-kWh of capacity. It can provide enough power for approximately 112 miles (180 km). We should note that the range figure is based upon the local WLTC cycle. The battery can be used as a power bank, allowing you to charge up your house for the entire day. However, this assumes that you don’t require more than 12 kW. This is the average household’s power consumption in Japan. A full charge of the battery will take 8 hours once the warning light turns on. You can charge the battery for 40 minutes if you are in a rush. This will recharge it to 80 percent.
Although it isn’t the most powerful EV, the Sakura offers a Sport mode that joins Eco and Standard. Regenerative braking allows for one-pedal operation by simply easing the accelerator pedal. Nissan claims it has created the most quiet cabin in the kei segment. It also mentions that the ProPILOT Park system is the first car to be able to automatically steer, brake, shift, accelerate, brake and park thanks to its ProPILOT Park system. The 2023 Nissan Sakura is available this summer in S, X and G trims. It costs just 1.78 million yen ($14,000) for its base guise, after taking into account the local incentives for electric vehicles.