Unlike most vehicles in which speeds are limited in reverse, the Nissan Leaf, if slightly modified, can be driven backwards at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour. That’s why the Leaf, piloted by professional stunt driver Terry Grant, was the vehicle chosen to attempt a record-setting backwards hillclimb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this past weekend.
Unfortunately, Goodwood officials halted Nissan’s attempt, saying that lack of testing prior to the event made it too risky. A Nissan spokesman commented on the situation:
We still want to break records with the Leaf. The fact it can travel at speeds up to 90 mph backwards is too good an opportunity not to exploit. The car does have to be modified for this to be possible, though, so there are safety issues we need to overcome first.
The record-setting attempt – right up the famed Goodwood Hill – was to take place this past weekend. Strangely, Goodwood officials didn’t see two-wheeling a Nissan Juke up the hill as excessively dangerous and allowed driver Terry Grant to do just that.
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