Nissan Note NISMO S revealed

The fourth model in Nissan's high-performance NISMO range has been exposed in Japan, in form of the Note Nismo S, powered by a 100kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine.

Following on from NISMO versions of Nissan GT-R, 370Z and JUKE, the Note comes with all the upgrades bestowed on its bigger, badder brethren, including bigger wheels with high-performance Bridgestone Potenza tyres (in this case 17-inch) , a tuned engine with free-breathing intake and exhaust systems, sports suspension, bucket seats and several structural enhancements.

NISMO's Chief Product Specialist, Hiroshi Tamura, said the diminutive hatch is designed to be more engaging and deliver serious cornering performance.

"The development concept of this model was to build a car that makes you want to keep driving, no matter where your destination may be. NISMO is confident that the Note NISMO will enhance your driving experience; it offers top level performance in a compact package," said Tamura.

There is a less exciting Note NISMO model fitted with a 1.2-litre supercharged three-cylinder petrol engine that pumps out 72kW/142Nm and is equipped with a CVT automatic transmission. It also gets chassis upgrades in the form of front and rear tunnel stays.

Step up to the Note NISMO S and it gets a bigger 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated four-pot that bangs out 100kW – up 21kW – and 163Nm thanks to a custom air intake, ECU tune and exhaust system.

It also eschews the CVT for a five-speed manual and gains a rear crossbar and underfloor V-bar for improved rigidity, plus disc brakes front and rear. The lesser NISMO light-car retains the standard Note's drum rear brakes.

In addition to the thorough mechanical tweaks, the cars gain several aerodynamic body work enhancements, including a custom front grille, front fascia with red trademark NISMO red pinstripe, LED running lights, side skirts with matching red highlights, a roof spoiler, red side mirrors and NISMO badges.

Inside, the cars get a sportier cockpit with NISMO-branded instrument cluster, the speedo going up to 260km/h in the Note NISMO S, along with alloy pedals, sports seats and an Alcantara-clad steering wheel. There are also Recaro bucket seats available as an option.

The Note is a compact B-segment light car rival for the Honda Jazz, and could be considered an alternative to Nissan Australia's Micra-based Almera sedan, but has never been sold here and likely never will.

As such, the Note NISMO is Nissan's answer to warmed-over city-hatches like the Holden Barina RS and Suzuki Swift Sport.

The chances of the hottest Note coming to Australia? Very unlikely but not out of the question, in the same way that Kia imports only the high-performance GT version of Europe's Pro_cee'd hatch.

The same arrangement could also apply to the NISMO version of Nissan's new European Pulsar hatch, which is yet to be confirmed for Australia.

A NISMO version of the US-market Sentra (similar to our Pulsar sedan) has also been revealed but, like the Euro Pulsar NISMO, remains only a concept at this stage.

Nissan Australia has still not officially confirmed if or when the NISMO brand will be launched in this country, but motoring.com.au understands it will happen in 2015 and that the local NISMO launch range will comprise only the existing GT-R, 370Z and JUKE.

Chris Jordan, Nissan Australia's Corporate Communications Supervisor, told motoring.com.au that the Note NISMO "could be done" but that the company's thinking so far "is not in that direction".