The Nissan Leaf is about to break a record at the forthcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed-usually something reserved for race and rally cars. But this time Nissan has set its sights on getting its all-electric model to take the record for the fastest car ever to be driven up the famous hill climb course-backwards.
Unlike combustion cars, which in reverse gear are only capable of low speeds, the Leaf’s electric powertrain, can in theory, be driven as fast backwards as forwards. This means the Leaf can fly back at a top reversing speed of 90mph. Don’t get excited though if you personally own a Leaf, the car usually has an electronic feature that stops the car reversing that quickly-so don’t try and fly off your drive later. Nissan has made just one modification to the Leaf at the event in removing this artificial limiter.
Of course that’s not all the Japanese firm will get up to at Goodwood, the Leaf’s kin, the Juke is also hoping to set a record at the famous festival. The car maker will also attempt a two-wheeled record up the Goodwood Hill, with the Juke aiming to become the fastest four-wheeled machine to climb the entire course using just two wheels.
Professional stunt driver, Terry Grant, will be the man attempting to set the records in the LEAF and Juke by performing the stunts once every day he said: “I’ve experienced Goodwood before but never attempted to set a new record. To have the chance to grab not only one but two records at the same event will hopefully provide everyone with a very entertaining spectacle.”
The Leaf Nismo RC-a race edition of the Leaf will also make its debut at the event. The car features a carbon fibre body, a lithium-ion battery composed of 48 compact modules and a high-response 80kW AC synchronous motor generates 107 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque.
The Chichester-based event runs from 1-3 July 2011. More details at: Goodwood website.
