Nissan intends to unveil the concept on February 1 at 2000 EST (Feb 2 at 0100 GMT) but haven’t we seen it yet? Attached is YouTube video that will go live next week and it shows a teaser of the Max-Out that was originally unveiled in late November 2021. The automaker says the upcoming EV will show what “happens when virtual becomes physical”. This suggests that the car has in fact been built since Max-Out was previously only shown in renderings.
When Nissan first unveiled the concept, it was stated that the electric two-seater roadster would benefit from an “ultra-light” construction. The Japanese automaker also indicated the vehicle has all-wheel drive, implying that it features one electric motor at the front and another at the rear. The sporty EV has a low center of gravity and “the unique ability to change seats, leveling the floor to offer more interior space if desired.”
Nissan also gave him the Advanced e-4ORCE setup, which was marketing talk for a dual-motor AWD setup. That hardware was originally presented in October 2019 on the Leaf prototype which has a combined output of 304 horsepower and 680 Newton-meters (501 pound-feet) of torque. It was enough electric punch to deliver “very responsive, yet very smooth acceleration.” Technical specifications for Max-Out are not provided.
Even if Nissan were to show the Max-Out in metal, we still don’t have too high hopes for the production version. Convertibles have fallen out of favor in the last few decades and there is more money to be made in other segments, namely SUVs and trucks. Electric convertibles are still very new, and it’s unlikely that people will be buying them in droves. Turning the Leaf into a crossover for a 2025 launch is an even bigger priority and we believe the company has bigger fish to fry than spending time and resources on a droptop model.
When Max-Out debuted, it was showcased alongside Chill-Out as a potential preview of a Leaf crossover. We also get a look at the Surf-Out single-cab pickup truck and the boxy Hang-Out hatchback that looks like a futuristic Cube.
