Nissan is using the 2016 Rio Olympics, which got under way in Brazil yesterday, to show off its vision of an electric car of the future.

The futuristic BladeGlider combines zero-emissions with high-performance in a revolutionary sports car design. It goes from 0 to 100 km in under 5 seconds and on to a top speed of 190 km an hour.

Entirely battery powered, the vehicle was developed from concept cars first shown at the Tokyo Auto Show in 2013.

Nissan has one BladeGlider on display in the city and the other available for VIPs and media to try out. 

The car seats the driver in front-centred and two passengers at the back.

The car symbolises future technologies that will combine intelligent mobility, environmentally-friendly impact and sports-car driving capabilities, says the Japanese carmaker, which is also one of the sponsors of the 2016 Olympics,

Nissan Motor Company President and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn says: “These prototypes epitomise Nissan’s drive to expand its Intelligent Mobility strategy, where driving pleasure combines with environmental responsibility. Nissan believes that enthusiasts should look forward to a zero emission future and BladeGlider is a perfect demonstration of that. It’s the electric vehicle for car-lovers.”

With the BladeGlider, Nissan’s vision was for an agile, efficient electric vehicle - a car that would ‘glide’, thanks to the near-silent performance of its electric powertrain and aerodynamic shape.

The car features an advanced chassis with a narrow front track and wider rear track with rear-hinged doors. The open roof of car is reinforced with an integrated roll-over protection structure, providing the exhilaration of an open-topped race car with the safety of a coupé.

A central display shows speed, state of battery charge, regeneration mode and torque map, and flanking the central display are two screens with the images of rear-view cameras mounted behind the front wheels. An alternative to door-mounted mirrors, this dual screen design improves the aerodynamic efficiency of the car. 

The driver sits in arrowhead formation slightly in front of two passengers, who enjoy extended legroom. The view for all occupants is panoramic, thanks to the seamless cockpit windscreen.

Power is 100 percent electric, and the exceptional powertrain performance is delivered by Nissan’s technical partner for the project, UK-based Williams Advanced Engineering. The maximum speed of the demonstration models is in excess of 190 kmph, with 0-100 kmph taking less than 5 seconds. The rear wheels’ drive is provided by two 130 kW electric motors – one for each wheel.

Power is supplied by a lithium-ion 220kW battery and cooling systems have been developed for both the battery and the motors.

The interior of the BladeGlider reflects the vehicle’s sporting intentions, with four-point safety harnesses for each occupant. The seats are trimmed in a blend of fabric and epoxy resin coating, and come in two colour trims – Cyber Green and Stealth Orange. These colours are used for the upper portions of the seat back, and framed with a silver reflective material to create an eye-catching, sporty look. The base of the seats are in black, patterned material, with a band of green and orange trim framing the cushion. 

The cars will be in Rio de Janeiro till the end of August.