Nissan announced last year that they will be making more NISMO performance models and offering them to more markets. If this latest concept is an indicator, then Nissan’s high-performance future does look bright.

Making its debut at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon is the Nissan Aura NISMO RS Concept, which the Japanese brand says is a technical validation exercise that explores the potential of the car to become a production model.

The high-performance hot hatch started life as a Note Aura NISMO, but comes with wider fenders, a lower stance, and a more aggressive silhouette made to improve downforce and reduce drag. It also wears 18-inch NISMO LMGT4 wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires. But more importantly, there’s an increase in performance thanks to the hatchback getting the running gear of the X-Trail NISMO e-Power.

That means the Aura NISMO RS Concept has a 204 PS / 330 Nm front motor, a 136 PS / 195 Nm rear motor, and a 144 PS / 250 Nm 1.5-liter turbo as a generator. It’s a big step up to the existing 4WD motor of the Note Aura NISMO, boosting performance in both handling and acceleration.

While the setup made the Aura NISMO RS Concept 100 kg heavier than the standard Note Aura NISMO, Nissan put in four-piston callipers in front and twin pistons at the rear to provide better stopping power.

Nissan and NISMO say they plan to further refine and optimize the concept for potential racing applications in addition to potential future commercialization. Hopefully, they won’t take long developing it as performance models are usually given a warm response from global consumers lately.