LA MOTOR SHOW: Nissan Juke Nismo RS

Nissan’s wild new Juke Nismo RS has been confirmed to make its world debut at the Los Angeles motor show on November 20.

First rumoured last year, the Juke Nismo RS will be positioned between the standard Juke Nismo (pictured in white) and the ferocious GT-R-powered limited-edition Juke R (pictured in black), although none of these high-performance Juke models have yet been confirmed for Australia.

As we’ve reported, Nissan will launch the standard Juke in Australia in two weeks, priced from $21,990 for the entry-level Juke ST, powered by an 86kW/158Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine driving the front wheels and matched with a five-speed manual transmission or Nissan’s XTRONIC continuously variable CVT auto ($24,390).

The more powerful 140kW 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine from the Pulsar SSS will power the mid-range 2WD six-speed manual-only Juke ST-S ($28,390) and the range-topping Juke Ti-S, available only in AWD CVT auto guise for $32,190.

While the Juke Nismo features mostly cosmetic changes over the turbo Juke on which it’s based, Nissan has not revealed technical details of the Juke Nismo RS, which could offer up to 200kW – up from about 160kW in the Juke Nismo but a far cry from the Juke R’s 408kW 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6.

It’s also not yet clear whether the Juke Nismo RS will be a six-speed manual or CVT auto model, but expect the most potent full-time production version of Nissan’s Micra-based city-crossover to come with all-wheel drive, as well as upgraded suspension, wheels, brakes and bodywork.

Organisers of the LA show have also revealed that Nissan will also stage the world debut of an unnamed Nismo concept next month, and both Nismo and Nismo RS versions of the LEAF, 370Z and GT-R are in development.

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