Nissan has officially kicked off a new era for its performance arm, Nismo, and has officially opened the new Nismo global headquarters and development center in Yokohama, Japan.
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Nissan‘s in-house tuning company has touched up the brand’s smallest crossover, and the finished product will be heading to dealerships very soon.
Towards the end of last year, Nissan announced its plans to expand its NISMO performance sub-brand and there’s no better way to garner attention among young enthusiast buyers than to display those vehicles at the 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon.
It’s not quite the menacing Juke R, but Nissan has created a themed Juke NISMO model drawing its inspiration from the movie The Dark Knight Rises.
At least year’s Tokyo Motor Show, Nismo teased things to come with a Juke Nismo Concept model, and an electric Leaf Nismo model. It appears the performance division of Nissan is going full speed ahead with new Nismo performance models, including more extreme RS versions.
When the Nissan Juke R was first introduced, the championship race car builders over at RML managed to take the ugliest crossover in the world and turn it into the world’s fastest while making it look awesome.
Nissan has announced an extensive 10-car lineup for the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon including everything from modified minivans to GT-R race car. Following roughly a month after the Tokyo Motor Show, the salon is in many ways Japan’s version of SEMA, giving aftermarket tuners and race shops a chance to show their wares.
In the brand’s NISMO motorsports-derived area will be four models, including the 370Z NISMO and NISMO Juke Concept, as well as a NISMO-tuned version of the Leaf EV and the Leaf NISMO RC race car. In addition, Nissan will display the Motul Autech GT-R, which won five of eight races in last season’s Super GT series, where the S Road MOLA GT-R team captured both the team and driver’s titles
In-house tuning brand Autech will show off three modified vans, including a custom NV350 Caravan Rider, the Serena Rider Performance Spec Black Line and the Elgrand Rider High-performance Spec Black Line – a wild looking version of what we call the Nissan Quest.
In addition, Nissan will show off two special edition production models, the GT-R Pure edition “For Track Pack”, as well as the Skyline 55th Limited Edition, commemorating the car’s 55th anniversary with a custom aero kit and extra goodies.
The Tokyo Auto Salon takes place from January 13-15 and, as always, look for AutoGuide’s extensive coverage here.
GALLERY: Nissan’s Tokyo Auto Salon Models
Nissan shows off its new direction for Nismo at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show by introducing performance models on less expensive vehicles such as the Juke. Even though none of the details are finalized, Nissan did stress that an expansion is occurring and bringing Nismo to markets outside of Japan has become a priority.
There’s no doubt Nismo is hugely popular with the Nissan crowd here in America, from their 370Z to even 240sx enthusiasts. We’re not 100-percent sure we like the direction that Nismo is taking by offering tuning packages for less expensive vehicles, but we do like the sound of lower costs on their products.
As of now, Nismo will continue on the path of developing engine upgrades, suspension parts, braking components, interior trim and aerodynamic packages for various Nissan models hopefully giving American retailers a new avenue for parts sales.
[Source: Automotive News]
It’s definitely not as awesome as the Juke-R, but the Nissan Juke Nismo Concept is probably a more realistic variant of the Juke and gives the first glimpse into Nismo’s future. Featuring a lower, wider and tougher stance, the Juke Nismo Concept received an aerodynamic-enhancing body kit, more power from a tuned engine, a stiffer chassis, larger tires, sporty interior treatment and a Nismo-colored paint scheme.
The outside of the Juke Nismo Concept has been finished off in signature Nismo colors of pearl white with red highlights. But more significant is the body kit created by Nismo’s aerodynamics team that normally specializes in perfecting race cars. New parts include a front and rear bumper, wider fenders and side skirts – all of which have been refined to enhance the Juke’s aerodynamic performance. Minor changes on the grille pattern, tailgate spoiler and door mirrors have all been tweaked to benefit the Juke’s aerodynamics.
Nismo then outfitted the Juke with a set of 19-inch wheels and tires, while the suspension has been upgraded with stiffer and lower springs. Nismo did mention that the 1.6L turbocharged powerplant received some power upgrades but didn’t specify an actual figure. On the inside, Nismo redesigned the steering wheel, pedals, gauges, shifter knob and door trims to provide a greater involvement while driving. Special leather-trimmed bucket seats have been added while the tachometer’s needle and dial are now illuminated in red.
AutoGuide.com will be sure to check out the Nismo Concept in person at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.
Check out two videos of the Nissan Juke Nismo Concept after the break.
GALLERY: Nissan Juke Nismo Concept
