LA MOTOR SHOW: Nismo twins sneak in
Nismo had more than the GT-R up its sleeve in LA…Nissan’s GT-R Nismo may have got the lion’s share of attention via its simultaneous reveals at Tokyo and Los Angeles, but at the West Coast expo, two other sexed-up Nissans also deserved a mention.
Nismo’s US outpost used the show to display two fettled Nissan models -- a hot-rodded Sentra small car concept and a more potent soon-to-be-released version of the JUKE Nismo, dubbed JUKE Nismo RS.
The Sentra is the US market’s equivalent of Pulsar. The modified car, a sedan, was one of the key elements of Nissan’s motor show presentation. That said, at this stage it’s a concept only.
In place of the Sentra’s usual atmo 1.8-litre inline four-cylinder engine, the Nismo boffins bolted in an up-sized (also 1.8-litre) version of the 1.6-litre sequential Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) turbocharged engine used in the Pulsar SSS.
According to Nissan USA, the transplant lifted horsepower from around 130 to 240 -- around 180kW!
The Nissan Sentra Nismo Concept also gets a “race-inspired exterior with enhanced aerodynamic performance”, Nismo-tuned suspension, steering and transmission, and “engaging motorsports-style cockpit”. A six speed manual gearbox replaces the normal CVT.
The official story is the car “teases further expansion of [the Nismo] performance line”.
Said Nissan US Vice President of Product Planning, Pierre Loing: "Fans have asked that we bring back a high-performance Sentra straight from the factory, just like in generations past.
“With Nismo, our in-house motorsports arm, already producing versions of the 370Z Nismo, JUKE Nismo, JUKE Nismo RS and upcoming GT-R Nismo, we wanted to demonstrate where we could go in the future.”
The Nismo JUKE RS, however, is set to go on sale in US Nissan dealers early next year. It will take to six the number of JUKE versions sold in the USA and sits above the JUKE Nismo.
Based on the JUKE Nismo, the RS gets a 160kW version of Nissan’s turbo 1.6 DIG four. The engine is matched to the choice of manual transmission and front drive or CVT-equipped all-wheel drive. Both variants get upgraded running gear and Recaro-ed up interior, although the manual front-drive is marginally up in both power and torque...
Bigger brakes, upgrade suspension and body rigidity all add up to a sportier drive in both variants, says Nissan
"The concept behind the development of the new JUKE Nismo RS is giving the customers exactly what they have been asking for -- more power, handling and exclusive equipment like Recaro seats," said Loing
Alas, there is still no firm news on the arrival of Nismo Down Under.
“There’s no exact time frame for Nismo’s introduction Down Under,” Nissan spokesperson Peter Fadeyev told motoring.com.au.
“The future for Nismo in Australia is a work-in-progress. It’s still something we are assessing,” he said.
“We would obviously look at a range of Nismo models, if a decision was made to introduce the brand here,” he hedged.
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