Contrary to popular belief, the fastest young star in Brazil isn’t from Jamaica … he’s from Japan.
In order to show the world a zero-emissions sports car is possible, a working prototype of the all-electric BladeGlider vehicle from Nissan was unveiled in Rio De Janeiro before the Olympics.
The futuristic vehicle is shaped a bit like a narrow arrowhead, with the driver seated centrally in the front and two passengers seated in the rear. The open-air cockpit is protected by a windscreen, and the BladeGlider’s aerodynamic body features rear-hinged dihedral doors as well as a roll-over protection structure that provides safety for its occupants.
Each of the car’s rear wheels is powered by its own electric motor. The 268-HP BladeGlider is capable of doing 0-62 in fewer than five seconds and has a top speed of 115 MPH.
The EV — which was developed from a concept car unveiled at the 2013 Tokyo Auto Show — runs on a lithium-ion 220kW battery that’s outfitted with a bespoke cooling system to prevent overheating.
The BladeGlider’s driver controls what’s going on using a wheel-mounted panel and the car’s interior boasts an advanced display showing speed, level of battery charge and torque map.
Speaking of torque, the car’s auto-adjustment system has three modes: off, agile and, yes, drift.
Electric slide anyone?
This article was featured in the InsideHook newsletter. Sign up now.
