JAPANESE car maker Nissan is expanding its NISMO range in Australia, with the introduction of the the JUKE NISMO RS, which joins the powerful Nissan GT-R NISMO supercar and the Nissan 370Z NISMO, both already on sale here.
Just 240 units of this limited edition NISMO variant will be available, and the special edition has race inspired styling, a driver-focused cockpit and increased driving performance compared to the standard Nissan JUKE.
The JUKE NISMO RS features bespoke front and rear bumpers, side skirts and roof spoiler as part of its unique NISMO RS aero package, along with a NISMO front grille, exhaust system, rear diffuser, and signature red mirror caps and detail line, plus RS badging.
The interior of the RS certainly looks the part with a leather-accented shift knob and leather and Alcantara steering wheel with red stitching and the iconic red centre mark, plus suede sports seats with red stitching.
It also has an intelligent key with NISMO RS push button engine start, a red NISMO tachometer and NISMO branded front kick plates and carpet mats. A gloss black centre console, door trim and air vent finishers have also been added.
In addition, a black roof liner, a carbon-look finish on the head unit and gear shift surrounds, and the suede door panels and meter hood, compliment the seats. The RS also has unique 10-spoke NISMO RS alloy wheels.
Powered by a 1.6 litre turbo-charged sequential high-pressure direct injection petrol engine that has been dynamically tuned to output 160kW of power and an impressive 280Nm of torque when coupled with a 6-speed manual transmission.
It’s also available as a CVT automatic, generating 157kW of power and 250Nm of torque. These figures have been achieved by optimising the engine control unit (ECU) settings and adding a revised exhaust system with a larger main tune diameter and revised baffling.
On the 6-speed manual variant, the transmission has an improved gear set and a shorter final drive ratio for faster acceleration, and the helical-geared limited slip diff directs more power to the front wheel with the most traction to maintain acceleration during cornering and reduce torque steer.
The Xtronic system on the All-Wheel Drive model offers eight step gearing – up from the six step standard system, and an advanced torque vectoring system limits under steer and improves agility, making the NISMO RS fun to drive.
Ensuring the driving dynamics are as one would expect of a NISMO model, a series of body and chassis reinforcements are designed to increase the vehicle’s rigidity, steering precision and response.
Suspension and steering updates, which include the re-tuning of the spring rates, damping force and electric power-assist steering (EPS), contribute to a more exciting and agile drive feel – without compromising ride comfort and noise, vibration and harshness.
The JUKE NISMO RS also features 4-wheel vented discs, larger 12.6-inch front brake rotors and vented rotors in the rear, plus red-painted calipers and upgraded brake pads. It also cmoes with a strong list of standard safety features.
These include front, front side and curtain airbags, two ISOFIX child restraint anchorage points, Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Warning (BSW) and Nissan Intelligent Mobility active safety technology.
It also features Anti-Lock Braking (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control (TCS), a 5.8-inch touch screen display, satellite navigation, digital radio and Bluetooth.
Built in the United Kingdom, the Nissan JUKE NISMO is available in three colours including Ivory Pearl, Pearl Black and Platinum, with a premium suede sports seat and red stitching interior trim. It’s on sale now, with prices starting from $37,790 plus on-roads.
