Nissan Juke NISMO to Appear During Le Mans 24 Hours
Scheduled to sell in Europe at the beginning of next year, but without a Japanese or North American release date, the Nissan Juke NISMO will make its debut this weekend at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Performance specifications haven’t been released yet for the sportier version of the company’s already fun-to-drive mini crossover, but we do know Nissan’s performance arm will be making a list of modifications to the car in an effort to improve its on-pavement performance.
Those improvements include wider tires wrapped around larger 18-inch alloy wheels and cushioned (less) by a stiffer sport suspension. A more aggressive-looking aero package is also added with a new front and rear bumpers, modified grille and tailgate spoiler to improve airflow, though the NISMO version doesn’t touch the amphetamine-addled Juke-R’s body mods. The interior will also be revise with sportier control surfaces and red-stitched suede bucket seats with bolstered sides.
Expect the same 1.6-liter direct-injected turbo four cylinder as a normal Juke (or the Delta Wing). Though we’re not aware of exactly what’s been done, the company says its NISMO version will have a tweaked version of the engine. We’re guessing reprogrammed ECU for more boost — probably a better exhaust and a better air intake too given that the engine is easy to retune for more power because of its turbocharger.
Luke is an energetic automotive journalist who spends his time covering industry news and crawling the internet for the latest breaking story. When he isn't in the office, Luke can be found obsessively browsing used car listings, drinking scotch at his favorite bar and dreaming of what to drive next, though the list grows a lot faster than his bank account. He's always on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> looking for a good car conversation. Find Luke on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> and <A title="Luke on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/112531385961538774338?rel=author">Google+</A>.
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