For this year’s hill climb, the electric hatchback was given performance upgrades.
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb motorsports race is right around the corner. As we approach the race week, companies have been revealing their competitors left and right. One of these is SamuraiSpeed. The Japanese racing company will be entering a Nissan Leaf in the hill climb event this year. However, it’s not a stock version of the battery-powered hatchback. Samuari Speed dressed up the Leaf with aero bits to increase downforce at high speeds for this year’s Pikes Peak. The Leaf contender is outfitted with skirts, a large front spoiler and a huge wing.
This is not a regular version of the Nissan Leaf. It has aero elements. Samurai Speed converted the EV to a two-door and weight savings were made. The company did not disclose performance numbers except that they were “making use” of the knowledge from the race and focusing on weight loss. The Samurai Speed team will now be heading to Colorado for the Hill Climb event on June 26, 2022. Takashi Oi will drive this crazy Nissan Leaf while California’s Av Custom Wraps handled the custom wraps for the Pikes Peak competitor.
EVs have been appearing at this famous hill climb event for years. Although the Pikes Peak first electric car was built in 1980, the record for the most successful electric vehicle climber was set by Volkswagen in 2018. The VW I.D. R conquered Pikes Peak in that year’s VW I.D. Acura’s Integra was revealed earlier this year as the Pikes Peak competitor, marking the sedan’s motorsports debut.