Nissan News: The Nissan Juke Nismo Concept & Future

[William Maley]

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Nissan rolled out another Juke concept in time for the Tokyo Motor Show. Though not as crazy as the Juke GT-R, the Juke Nismo does come with some goodies. Nissan's performance division has added a stiffer suspension, new 19-inch alloy wheels, tuned the 1.6L DI turbocharged four-cylinder, new body parts, new seats, and a pearl white exterior paint job with red highlights.

But the Juke Nismo concept also signals a change at Nismo. Nissan announced today that it will expand its lineup of Nismo models, parts and accessories and move to a new global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan in 2013.

"We aim to bring Nismo's passion and focus on driving excitement to mainstream models and the Juke Nismo Concept shows what we can do," said Nissan president and CEO, Carlos Ghosn.

Currently, Nismo activities have "been restricted to halo performance cars like the Z series in a small number of markets," the automaker said in a statement. "That is about to change."

Press Releases are on Page 2

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NISSAN REVEALS JUKE NISMO CONCEPT IN TOKYO

Lower, faster and visually even more dramatic, Nismo know-how redefines the Nissan Juke

TOKYO, Japan -

• Nissan Juke Nismo Concept gives first glimpse of Nismo's future
  
• Purpose-designed body kit enhances looks and aerodynamic efficiency
  
• More power from tuned engine
  
• Stiffer chassis and larger tyres for even better handling
  
• Distinctive sporting interior treatment
  
• Finished in Nismo signature colours
  

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd will reveal a bold new future for its Nismo performance arm. One of the undoubted stars of the Tokyo Motor Show will be the Nissan Juke Nismo, an idea of how a premium sports version of the hugely successful compact crossover could look.

With its distinctive styling Nissan Juke has redefined the highly competitive B-segment, but the Juke Nismo Concept is even more dramatic. It's lower, wider and has a tougher stance. Even standing still, it's clearly a performance car.

Aimed at a car-loving audience looking for a car that reflects an edgy personality, Juke Nismo Concept magnifies the standard car's unique mix of compact car agility, coupé-like responses and SUV strength.

"The global sales success of Nissan Juke has proved beyond doubt that customers are looking for something different," said Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. "The Juke Nismo Concept takes that idea to the next level. It's energetic, distinctive and highly desirable."

Finished in signature Nismo colours of pearl white with red highlights, the Juke Nismo Concept wears a body kit created by Nismo's aerodynamic specialists whose skill has been honed perfecting racecar bodywork.

And as on a racecar, the Juke Nismo Concept body kit is designed not just to look good, but also to be dynamically highly efficient. New parts include revised lower bumpers front and rear, wider fenders and sill side skirts.

The grille pattern has been changed while the tailgate spoiler has been modified by the addition of side elements to control airflow more efficiently. Even the shape of the door mirrors has been altered to enhance the car's aerodynamic performance and reduce front and rear lift without increasing drag.

This reduction in lift means the contact patch of the tyres has been increased to improve grip, which is further enhanced by the arrival of stylish new 19-inch alloy wheels.

Naturally the Nismo treatment extends to the chassis which has been lowered and stiffened using proprietary parts of the sort that will be available from the expanded Nismo's parts catalogue, while the 1.6-litre direct injection turbo gasoline engine has been uprated to deliver more power and performance.

And Nismo touches can also be found in the interior of the Concept, where parts that interact with the driver's sense of sight, sound, look and feel -­ such as the steering wheel, pedals, gauges, shifter knob and door trims - have been redesigned to provide greater involvement when driving. Further underlining the performance aspects of the car, special leather-trimmed bucket seats have been added while the importance of the tachometer means the dial and needle are illuminated in red.

A feeling of enhanced sporting quality in the cockpit can be attributed to a matt effect applied to previously reflective surfaces, while the dramatic centre console - shaped to resemble a motorcycle fuel tank - has been given a metallic coating to enhance the purposeful feeling of the Concept.

"As the Concept shows, Nismo brings new levels of individuality to mainstream Nissan cars like Juke. The future for Nismo is to develop premium sports designs for an ever-widening range of customers," said Nismo President, Shoichi Miyatani.

"Our forthcoming range of cars will be just as accessible and innovative as every Nissan product, but with added Nismo energy they will be even more fun to own and drive," he added.

NISMO PERFORMANCE ROAD CAR STRATEGY REVEALED

Legendary international motorsport division Nismo to apply its performance expertise to Nissan product range

TOKYO, Japan -

• Major growth planned for Nissan's performance arm
  
• Nismo-tuned examples of mainstream models promised
  
• Nissan Juke Nismo Concept shows what the future might bring
  
• Wider range of after sales performance parts to be developed
  
• New global HQ due to open in 2013
  
• Highly successful motorsport campaign in 2011
  

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd has announced a major expansion programme that will see Nismo, the company's legendary performance arm, applying tuning and performance expertise learned on the racetrack to Nissan road cars.

This ambitious expansion programme will see the Nismo name become synonymous with performance and premium sports variants of mainstream Nissan models.

"Nismo adds even more excitement and innovation to Nissan products. We now plan to inject that style and excitement into other models in the Nissan range," says Shoichi Miyatani, President of Nismo.

As an indication of what the future might hold, one of the highlights of the Nissan stand at the show is the Juke Nismo Concept, a high performance version of Nissan's genre-creating compact crossover. Finished in Nismo's signature colour scheme of pearl white with subtle red highlights, the Concept boasts performance tuning for the suspension, more power from the 1.6-litre direct injection turbo engine and a stylish yet functional aerodynamic body kit.

Nismo - the name is derived from Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd - has long been a highly respected performer on the race tracks of the world.

In 2011, Nismo-developed Nissan GT-R racecars won the Drivers' and Team titles in Japan's SUPER GT championship and also took the Drivers' title in the FIA GT1 World Championship. Nismo-developed engines won their class in the Le Mans 24 Hours and the company has also developed the remarkable trail-blazing LEAF Nismo RC, the world's first all-electric racing car. Its arrival heralds a new era of eco-friendly motor sport.

But the company's road car activities have, until now, been restricted to halo performance cars like the Z series in a small number of markets. That is about to change.

"Nismo has carved out an enviable reputation in motor racing," said Carlos Ghosn, Nissan President and CEO. In fact, in 2011, Nismo cars and engines won in every category they competed in... the first time we have achieved this milestone.

"The time is now right to let ordinary drivers experience what our racing drivers enjoy every time they head out onto the track. We aim to bring Nismo's passion and focus on driving excitement to mainstream models, and the Juke Nismo Concept shows what we can do," said Mr Ghosn.

As well as producing complete performance versions of Nissan models, the company plans to expand its range of performance parts and accessories while another element of the expansion programme will see Nismo relocate to an all-new purpose designed global headquarters in Tsurumi, Yokohama at the start of 2013.

By bringing all Nismo's activities under one roof, the move will create a global centre of excellence for race and performance road car development. As well as a race shop, the centre will have a large maintenance area for service work, a heritage area where famous Nismo race and road cars will be displayed and a specialist store - the Omori Factory, named after Nismo's current base - where customers can buy performance parts and items from the Nismo Collection.

The larger site will also have ample space to hold more of the popular Nismo events for fans. The annual Nismo Festival, for example, attracts more than 30,000 fans ready to celebrate the company's racing heritage and achievements.

About Nismo

Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd (Nismo) was established in 1984 primarily to look after Nissan's motor sport activities. Nismo currently operates at the highest levels of GT and sports car racing, including Japan's domestic SUPER GT series as well as global campaigns in the FIA GT1 World Championship, the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Le Mans series and the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC).

In 2011, Nismo-developed Nissan GT-R racecars won the driver's and team titles in SUPER GT and the drivers' title in the FIA GT1 World Championship, while Nismo-developed engines won LMP2 class at the Le Mans 24 Hours, and took LMP2 class titles in the ILMC and Le Mans Series. Nismo also won the driver and the team titles in the National class of the All-Japan Formula 3 championship.

Nismo connects with its supporters through the hugely-popular Nismo Festival, drawing upwards of 30,000 fans to its annual year-end extravaganza. The festival represents "Nissan Racing DNA" and features the cars and stars from Nissan's sporting past, as well as examples of its current racecars.

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