Between the two NISMO hot hatches show on the Nissan stand we could have the makings of something good. Hopefully. The
Pulsar
is still a concept for now, the Juke NISMO RS a production reality that goes on sale in December.
Can the RS make a proper hot hatch of the Juke?
The Juke RS is more than just a badge exercise too. Power is up from the standard
NISMO's
200hp to 218hp and FWD versions get a standard limited-slip diff too. Torque is boosted by 184lb ft to 207lb ft and there's a new exhaust added.
Alongside the powertrain tweaks there are welcome changes to the brakes and suspension too. The front discs are 320mm in diameter compared to 296mm on the NISMO and the rears are ventilated rather than solid. NISMO says new strategic body strengthening for the RS increases torsional stiffness, while retuned springs and dampers should deliver a little more handling edge.
'Discreet' and 'Nissan Juke' are not typically phrases found together but the visual changes from NISMO to NISMO RS are fairly restrained. A few extra badges here and there but with a very similar bodykit to the NISMO it's quite hard to tell apart. Even the Recaro buckets seen here are optional.
Only a concept for now. More to follow...
Prices aren't confirmed yet but it would be reasonable to expect a fair premium over the NISMO's £20,500. Consider us intrigued...
Now imagine that sort of performance package in the Pulsar. Interesting, right? As a concept, the Pulsar NISMO doesn't have any specification confirmed, Nissan instead referring to 'agile and sporty responses' as well as 'honed and modified steering'.
Details on the styling are more solid. Those wheels are 19-inch and sit on 235/35 tyres and there are twin central exhaust pipes as well. The red 'Layered Double Wing' does improve aero performance says NISMO and you can probably just see the carbon rear wing poking out the back. It looks quite funky actually, though perhaps not helped by the five-door only format.
Nothing is yet announced on the powertrain for the Pulsar NISMO concept. However, given Nissan has also announced a 190hp engine for the regular Pulsar at Paris, a NISMO model would surely have to boast more if it made production. 218hp and a limited slip-diff perhaps... Nissan says more details will follow on the Pulsar so we'll be sure to keep you updated.