Thursday 2nd October 2014

NISMO Pulsar and Juke RS - Paris 2014

Are these the hot hatches to filter some GT-R NISMO magic to the everyday?

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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.

 

[smaybury]

At least the Pulsar doesn't have the honking underbite of the Juke. Much better-looking front end, IMO.

[renaultgeek]

if nissan can do this with the same engine, are we about to get a proper clio trophy?

[Matt Bird]

We can but hope! This Clio 'Gordini' seems to have gone nowhere so maybe the Juke RS can spur Renault on a bit

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

[WCZ]

nismo not what it used to be

[renaultgeek]

WCZ said:

nismo not what it used to be

only available in Japan?

[Oddball RS]

The Juke is one pig ugly car.

[pork911]

http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/175782-svm-release-proj...

[robinandcamera]

That is all I have to say on this matter.

[HaroldBishop]

Really like the Pulsar, hope it gets to production in some semblance of that form.

[moffat]

Pulsar is just a rebadged last gen Subaru Impreza... could have tried a bit harder!

[MustardCutter]

moffat said:

Pulsar is just a rebadged last gen Subaru Impreza... could have tried a bit harder!

Say what?!

[sh33n]

I wouldn't want either, but the Pulsar looks particularly stupid. I can't see the design staying like that for production, the first speed hump will ruin the front spoiler / lip.

Red bits aside it looks a bit like a rubbish (and perhaps much slower) version of the WRX hatch.

[Roono]

Another car to be called 'RS' but Skoda had to use 'vRS' ?

Nice that Ford were so scared of Skoda making great RS's...

[RikD]

So a Nissan Clio then.

[Hellbound]

All the Pulsar needs is a respectable ring time, Brembo's, Recaro's and an LSD.

Then you'll be nursing a boner over it.

Still think Nissan have missed a gap in the market for a £20k rwd hot hatch.

[stuart-b]

But will it do this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSb2Kv1nBCY

[speedjockey]

NISMO magic? Hahaha....

[Escort Si-130]

Shame they didn't make it a bit more aggressive on the bonnet, like the Sunny Pulsar of the early 90's. That splitter looks likely to get damaged on humps, but hey its a concept after all.

As for the Juke, ugly ass fker!

[M@1975]

Yep, Pulsar should have been another 4wd recreation of the 90s GTiR. Thats a little disappointing.

[s m]

Roono said:

Another car to be called 'RS' but Skoda had to use 'vRS' ?

Nice that Ford were so scared of Skoda making great RS's...

Skoda use the v as it's a háček rather than letter 'V'

They could use RS - as do Renault, Porsche, Audi, Nissan, Mitsubishi etc ....