Ken Gratton•6 Oct 2014
NEWS
PARIS MOTOR SHOW: Pulsar Nismo hatched
And Nissan Australia has added it to the growing Nismo wishlistNissan's Pulsar Nismo concept, featuring sports styling enhancements and recalibrated suspension and steering, has premiered in Paris.
While the Nismo-fettled hatch is a concept only, a Sentra (US Pulsar) Nismo sedan already revealed earlier this year hints that the odds of the hero cars entering production are improving.
What then are the chances we will see the Pulsar Nismo models – sedan and/or Euro hatch – in Australia? It's all contingent on Nissan Australia getting the go-ahead to introduce the Nismo sub brand, in the first instance, says the importer's Corporate Communications Supervisor, Chris Jordan.
"We haven't shied away from our interest in Nismo, but we haven't confirmed Nismo for the Australian market as yet," Jordan told motoring.com.au this morning. "But we certainly do readily admit our interest in it, and... we're talking with Japan about bringing Nismo to Australia..."
Boasting satin grey paint with red accents, the Pulsar Nismo hatch sports a body kit comprising a revised front bumper with larger air intakes and brake cooling vents, side skirts and a revised rear bumper, wheel arch flares and a carbon-fibre rear spoiler. Other distinguishing details include 19-inch alloy wheels (with 235/35 tyres), chrome trim around the side glass and a dark lens for the reversing light, in lieu of the production car's clear lens.
A red tachometer is complemented by a three-spoke steering wheel, alloy pedals and sports seats in Alcantara. Different rate springs and dampers provide the car with a lower ride height, and the steering has been retuned for improved response. Nissan is revealing nothing about the concept car's drivetrain, or how much of the Nismo changes will reach production – assuming the car does enter production.
The Pulsar Nismo hatch is based on the Euro Pulsar, which is a different car from the Thai-built model sold in Australia, bearing the same name. It has been rumoured in the past that the importer is looking seriously at introducing the Euro Pulsar, which would presumably sell alongside the current Pulsar sedan in the same way that the N16 Pulsar from a decade ago was sourced from different factories for hatch and sedan.
In an odd, back-tracking sort of way, the existence of the Pulsar Nismo hatch is a surer sign than ever that Nissan Australia will find a way to replace the current Pulsar hatch with the Euro model.
As Nissan Australia MD Richard Emery told motoring.com.au back in July, the Pulsar-based Nismo models would provide much-needed sales volume to sustain the Nismo sub brand in Australia.
But taken one step further, a hero car without a volume-selling range for it to support is ultimately pointless. You can sell buyers the hero car, but what do you sell them if they can't afford that?
Tags
Nissan
Pulsar
Car News
Hatchback
Performance Cars
Written byKen Gratton
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