Nissan's all-new Juke NISMO RS: A new chapter begins
Nissan's all-new Juke NISMO RS is an outstanding car that kicks a completely new chapter in the history of this exciting model.
It first previewed at the Geneva Motor Show in March and, needless to say, attendees were impressed by the beauty, the power and the spec of this magnificent vehicle.
Nissan said that the Juke has experienced a "thorough NISMO development programme", helping shape it in such a way that it is true to its heritage but altogether unique.
This continues the tradition of the car manufacturer, which has always been keen on evolving the brand by embracing technology, but not forgetting where it came from – you build on the successes of the past, not forget them.
The Juke NISMO RS features a whole raft of "motorsport developed" technologies that have wide appeal. These result in better performance, a "sharper" chassis set-up, stronger and more responsive brakes.
"With Nissan Juke NISMO already accounting for a growing number of all Juke sales in Europe, the enthusiasts' desire for more performance is clearly there," commented Guillaume Cartier, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Nissan in Europe.
"The new NISMO RS version offers just that and cements NISMO's reputation as creators of digital age performance."
The sports sensibility can be seen in the car's state-of-the-art 1.6-litre DIG-T engine, which has been revamped for this model. It now generates 218PS (160kW) from 200PS (147kW), while torque in two-wheel drive/manual transmission versions has gone from 250Nm to 280Nm.
Other highlights include the "strategic body strengthening to increase torsional stiffness" beyond what was thought possible, the development of a braking system that offers even better resistance when under frequent hard use.
"The new Juke NISMO RS conforms exactly to the NISMO ethos, providing an instant performance feeling in a premium design inspired by our motorsport activities. The result is engaging, exciting and accessible," added Mr Cartier.
Unique stylistic differentiators include sports "bucket seats" and a comprehensive safety pack. The latter is made up of the company's fantastic Around View Monitor and Safety Shield, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning and Moving Object Detection.
This model is also especially aerodynamic and a lot more pugnacious that the classic Juke. The exterior lower front and rear bumpers, wings that are wider, sill side skirts and a thoroughly imposing dark chrome V-motion grille.
The car is truly a sight to behold, an exhilarating experience that handles the road effortlessly and one of the most comfortable drives in its highly competitive segment.