Juke, the compact crossover that has single-handedly created an entirely new sector of the market, will be the first Nissan to be turned into a premium sports model. The Nissan Juke Nismo is bringing motorsport-inspired performance to the street.
Previewed as a concept at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, the production version of the Juke Nismo promises more energy, more excitement and more innovation. The car will be built at Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK in Sunderland alongside other members of the Juke family with sales in Europe due to start towards the end of the year.
Detailed specification will be released closer to launch, but the Juke Nismo will combine edgy crossover styling with a choice of two technically advanced chassis, one with two-wheel drive and the other featuring four-wheel drive and torque vectoring. Both will have revised suspension settings.
A sporting attitude will be underscored by a tuned turbocharged petrol engine, while tougher looks inside and out will reflect the brand values of Nismo, Nissan's performance and motorsport division.
"The Juke Nismo Concept gives a strong indication of how the production model will look and showcases Juke's performance credentials. It combines the current Juke design, with its unique combination of sports coupé lines and SUV styling, with Nismo's aerodynamic know-how.
"Add enhanced performance and even sharper handling and Juke Nismo is a car that just begs to be driven. The result takes Juke to the next level - distinctive, energetic and highly desirable: it will continue the trail blazed by Juke since its launch a little over a year ago," said Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
2012 Nissan Juke Nismo Concept
Nissan Juke Nismo Concept
Nissan Juke Nismo Concept, first seen at the Tokyo Motor Show in December 2011 and being given its European debut in Geneva, is finished in signature Nismo colours of pearl white with red highlights.
It wears a body kit created by Nismo's aerodynamic specialists whose skill has been honed perfecting racecar bodywork. As on a racecar, the Juke Nismo Concept body kit is designed not just to look good, but also to be dynamically highly efficient. New parts include revised lower bumpers front and rear, wider wings and sill side skirts.
The grille pattern has been changed while the tailgate spoiler has been modified by the addition of side elements to control airflow more efficiently. Even the shape of the door mirrors has been altered to enhance the car's aerodynamic performance and reduce front and rear lift without increasing drag. The contact patch of the tyres has been increased to improve grip, which is further enhanced by the arrival of stylish new 19-inch alloy wheels.
Nismo treatment extends to the chassis which has been lowered and stiffened using proprietary parts of the sort that will be available from the expanded Nismo's parts catalogue, while the 1.6-litre direct injection turbocharged petrol engine has been uprated to deliver more power and performance.
Nismo touches can also be found in the interior of the Concept, where parts that interact with the driver's sense of sight, sound, look and feel - such as the steering wheel, pedals, gauges, gear knob and door trims - have been redesigned to provide greater involvement when driving. Further underlining the performance aspects of the car, special leather-trimmed bucket seats have been added while the importance of the tachometer means the dial and needle are illuminated in red.
A feeling of enhanced sporting quality in the cockpit can be attributed to a matt effect applied to previously reflective surfaces, while the dramatic centre console - shaped to resemble a motorcycle fuel tank - has been given a metallic coating to enhance the purposeful feeling of the Concept.
Nismo: the future
The Nissan Juke Nismo Concept is a taster for a raft of highly focused Nismo versions of Nissan products promised for the future and beyond. Nissan will conduct an ambitious expansion programme where the Nismo name will become synonymous with performance and premium sports variants of production Nissan models.
"Nismo adds even more excitement and innovation to Nissan products. Following on from Nissan Juke Nismo, we plan to inject that style and excitement into other models in the Nissan range," says Shoichi Miyatani, President of Nismo.
"As well as performance and excitement, Nismo's product range will encapsulate core values of trust, safety and distinctiveness. As the Concept shows, Nismo brings new levels of individuality to mainstream Nissan cars like Juke," said Miyatani-san.
Another element of the expansion programme will see Nismo relocate to an all-new purpose designed global headquarters in Tsurumi, Yokohama at the start of 2013.
By bringing all Nismo's activities under one roof, the move will create a global centre of excellence for race and performance road car development. As well as a race shop, the centre will have a large maintenance area for service work, a heritage area where famous Nismo race and road cars will be displayed and a specialist store - the Omori Factory, named after Nismo's current base - where customers can buy performance parts and items from the Nismo Collection.
The larger site will also have ample space to hold more of the popular Nismo events for fans. The annual Nismo Festival, for example, attracts more than 30,000 fans ready to celebrate the company's racing heritage and achievements.