Nissan teases widebody Nismo concept ahead of Tokyo Auto Salon

Following confirmation of the manual-equipped Fairlady Z Nismo MT, Nissan has confirmed several other new vehicles to be shown at its Tokyo Auto Salon stand from this Friday (January 9).

The first is a new 'Nismo Concept Model' that has been teased with a shadowy close-up image of its rear-end, hinting at a widebody design based on one of its production models.

While not officially confirmed, the tail-light design points to a wild version of the Japanese-market Nissan Note Aura hatchback, which is already available in a tamer Nismo street version.

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Until the Nismo concept is revealed and detailed at the Tokyo event, it's unclear whether the modifications to the Note Aura will be purely cosmetic or performance-based as well.

In Japan, the Note Aura Nismo is available solely with Nissan's e-Power series hybrid drivetrain, though the Nismo version introduced a Nismo-tuned dual-motor all-wheel drive version producing an extra 10kW of power and 50Nm of torque.

The Nissan Note Aura e-Power features a 60kW/103Nm 1.2-litre petrol engine under the bonnet, which doesn't mechanically drive the wheels. Instead, as in all Nissan e-Power vehicles, it acts as a generator for the (100kW/300Nm) electric motor driving the front wheels, and in AWD variants there's an additional e-motor at the rear.

In standard versions, the rear electric motor makes 50kW and 100Nm, where Nismo AWD versions offer 60kW/150Nm.

The widebody Nismo concept could signal the Japanese brand's intentions to use the Note Aura and/or e-Power technology in motorsport – but we'll have to wait until later this week to find out.

Nissan has also confirmed that two additional show cars based on production models will make their debuts in Tokyo later this week.

The Nissan X-Trail Rock Creek Multibed Wildplay is an even more rugged and accessorised version of the adventure-ready X-Trail Rock Creek edition already revealed for the Japanese market.

Headline changes include "a custom rugged exterior and interior, waterproof seats and features attractive outdoor-themed accessory packages to support camping excursions". More will be revealed this week.

The second new model is the Nissan Leaf Autech, based on the latest version of the Japanese brand's trailblazing EV nameplate. Like the existing lineup of Autech-badged models in Japan, the Leaf Autech boasts "sporty yet luxurious exterior and interior materials" to give it a very different look.

The new Nissan models will be displayed alongside the updated Nissan Z, set to be shown in new Nismo MT guise for the first time, and previewing the Z's "new design styling aimed at increasing aerodynamic performance".

Also on display at Nissan's Tokyo Auto Salon stand will be a specially restored Nissan March purchased by Masahiko 'Matchy' Kondo, Team Director of Kondo Racing, as well as the 2016 Motul Autech GT-R race car, in honour of driver Tsugio Matsuda’s retirement from the Japanese Super GT motorsports series.

Stay tuned to CarExpert for more coverage out of the Tokyo Auto Salon, which commences this Friday (January 9).

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