NISSAN JUKE NISMO CONCEPT HINTS AT THE FUTURE
Lower, faster and visually even more dramatic, Nismo
know-how redefines the Nissan Juke
- Nissan Juke Nismo Concept revealed
- First glimpse of Nismo's future plans in Europe
- Purpose-designed body kit enhances looks and efficiency
- More power from tuned engine
- Stiffer chassis and larger tyres for even better handling
- Distinctive sporting interior treatment
- Finished in Nismo signature colours
Dubai (13 January 2012) - A bold new future for Nismo - the performance arm of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. - is promised by the Nissan Juke Nismo, revealed to the world at Tokyo Motor Show in December. Officially still a concept to test the public's reaction, Juke Nismo gives an idea of how a premium sports version of the hugely successful compact crossover could look.
With its distinctive styling, Nissan Juke has reshaped the highly competitive B-segment, but the Juke Nismo Concept is even more dramatic. It is lower, wider and has a tougher stance... even stationary, it's still clearly a performance car.
Aimed at a car-loving audience looking for a vehicle that reflects an edgy personality, Juke Nismo Concept magnifies the standard car's unique mix of compact car agility, coupé-like responses and SUV strength.
"The global sales success of Nissan Juke has proved beyond doubt that customers are looking for something different," said Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. "The Juke Nismo Concept takes that idea to the next level. It's energetic, distinctive and highly desirable."
Finished in signature Nismo colours of pearl white with red highlights, the Juke Nismo Concept wears a body kit created by Nismo's aerodynamic specialists, whose skill has been honed perfecting racecar bodywork.
And, 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 fenders 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.
This reduction in lift means 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.
Naturally, the 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 parts catalogue, while the 1.6-litre direct injection turbo gasoline 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, shifter 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.
The Nissan Juke Nismo Concept is a taster for a raft of highly-focused Nismo versions of Nissan products promised for 2012 and beyond. An ambitious expansion programme will see the Nismo name become synonymous with performance and premium sports variants of mainstream Nissan models, which will be available alongside existing Nismo versions of the iconic GT-R and 370Z sports cars.
"Nismo adds even more excitement and innovation to Nissan products, as owners of Nismo versions of the Z and GT-R will testify. We now 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 line up 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. The future for Nismo is to develop premium sports designs for an ever-widening range of customers," said Miyatani-san.
"Our forthcoming range of cars will be just as practical, dependable and innovative as every Nissan product but, with added Nismo energy, they will be even more fun to own and drive," he added.
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 of 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 to celebrate the company's racing heritage and achievements.
About Nismo
Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd (Nismo) was established in 1984 primarily to look after Nissan's motor sport activities. Nismo currently operates at the highest levels of GT and sports car racing, including Japan's domestic SUPER GT series as well as global campaigns in the FIA GT1 World Championship, the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Le Mans series and the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC).
In 2011, Nismo-developed Nissan GT-R racecars won the driver's and team titles in SUPER GT and the drivers' title in the FIA GT1 World Championship, while Nismo-developed engines won LMP2 class at the Le Mans 24 Hours, and took LMPS2 class titles in the ILMC and Le Mans Series. Nismo also won the driver and the team titles in the National class of the All-Japan Formula 3 championship.
the company has also developed the remarkable trail-blazing LEAF Nismo RC, the world's first all-electric racing car. Its arrival heralds a new era of eco-friendly motor sport.
Nismo connects with its supporters through the hugely-popular Nismo Festival, drawing upwards of 30,000 fans to its annual year-end extravaganza. The festival represents "Nissan Racing DNA" and features the cars and stars from Nissan's sporting past, as well as examples of its current racecars.