2013 Nissan Juke Nismo is the runabout we've always wanted
Thu, 07 Feb 2013
Nismo also cranked up the power on the Juke's turbocharged direct-injection 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. The Juke Nismo delivers 197 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, compared to the 188 hp and 177 lb-ft available in stock configuration. Buyers can have the engine with either a six-speed manual transmission or CVT gearbox, and the Juke Nismo can also be had with either all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive. Check out the full press release below for more information.
2013 JUKE NISMO OFFERS UNIQUE STYLE, ATTAINABLE PERFORMANCE BORN FROM MOTORSPORTS
– Nissan Expands NISMO Line-up in the United States with Addition of New JUKE NISMO –
• Kicks off new strategy to expand NISMO's presence in key markets
• Race-inspired exterior provides enhanced aerodynamic performance
• NISMO-tuned suspension, steering and transmission help deliver engaging driving dynamics
• Fourth model in popular Nissan JUKE line-up, available in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive
NISMO, its vision and name derived from NISsan MOtorsports, is embarking on an aggressive journey to expand its presence beyond the racetrack in key markets around the world. Already a legendary brand among professional and grassroots racers, as well as performance enthusiasts everywhere, NISMO now is applying its near-50 years of engineering experience and expertise to an expanding range of affordable production vehicles such as the new 2013 JUKE NISMO model.
The new JUKE NISMO, with its track-derived design, enhanced performance and engaging handling, gives JUKE buyers a distinct choice among the affordable S, well-equipped SV and premium SL grades of the popular crossover. Two configurations – front-wheel drive with a 6-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive with sport-tuned Xtronic CVT® – are available.
Pierre Loing, Vice President, Product and Advanced Planning and Strategy, Nissan North America, Inc. said: "NISMO's unique motorsports DNA adds a new dimension to the pioneering JUKE's long list of attributes. With nearly 100 separate performance, exterior and interior modifications and solid functionality behind every element, JUKE NISMO adds a whole new dimension of sporty style and driving exhilaration – all within reach of performance buyers' budgets."
Ultimate Sports Styling
Far from being purely cosmetic, the modifications to the JUKE exterior are designed to enhance the JUKE NISMO's aerodynamics, resulting in a 37-percent improvement in downforce (versus non-NISMO models). Many of the aggressive sports-cross styling elements were influenced by NISMO's motorsport expertise, in particular using lessons learned from the styling and engineering of the Nissan GT-R racers that compete in the Super GT series in Japan.
Compared to the standard Nissan JUKE, the most obvious visual change is to the front fascia and grille, which have been modified to better control airflow to the engine. The new front end features a lower and more aggressive design. JUKE's familiar integrated fog lights have been replaced by thin-strip LED accent lights, positioned at the top edge of new small vents to the side of the larger grille. On front-wheel drive versions these are blanked, but on all-wheel drive models the left-hand side vent allows air into the engine bay for the CVT oil cooler and the right-hand vent is styled to match.
The prominent upper edge of the large lower grille features a red pinstripe, which drops dramatically to curve around the smaller vents and continues all the way to the front wheel arches. This distinctive NISMO cue gives the nose a visual width and presence while emphasising the Juke NISMO's athletic stance on the road. The signature Nissan V-strut grille is finished in a darker shade than other JUKE models. To the right of the grille is a NISMO badge with a red "O," stamping NISMO's distinctive motorsport heritage on JUKE for first time. The distinctive JUKE combination lights are smoked as part of the NISMO appearance treatment.
The red pinstripe continues on the flanks of the car at the base of the doors. The sculpted side skirts have been reworked to enhance aerodynamic performance, directing airflow around the rear wheels and away from the car as quickly and efficiently as possible. To increase the JUKE NISMO's visual stance, the wheel arches are more muscular and are now finished entirely in the body color to give a truly premium feel. The door mirrors have been painted red to give a visual indication to the casual observer that this is not a standard Nissan JUKE. The B-pillars are now finished in gloss "piano black," also promoting a sleek and sporty image.
In the rear, the bumper is deeper than on non-NISMO models and the red pinstripe is also visible on the black sill. A redesigned body-colored liftgate spoiler and rear fascia diffuser complete the body modifications.
Also part of the stunning JUKE NISMO exterior appearance are the new 18-inch lightweight aluminum-alloy wheels with 225/45R18 Continental ContiSportContact5 summer tires, which help give drivers additional grip during cornering and further boost the JUKE NISMO's on-road presence. One inch larger than the standard JUKE wheels, the diamond-cut alloys feature a 10 twin-spoke design and are finished in dark anthracite.
The 2013 Nissan JUKE NISMO is available in three exterior colors – Sapphire Black, Brilliant Silver and Pearl White. All come equipped with red outside door mirrors and the matching pinstripe around base of the vehicle.
Sporty Interior Styling Focused on the Driver
NISMO's core belief is that everything should be focused on the driver. It's about enhancing their experience, pure and simple. So the JUKE NISMO's seats, instrumentation, steering wheel, gear knob, pedals and door trims have all been redesigned to boost driver enjoyment by creating a more performance-oriented environment.
The front seats have been redesigned to offer additional lateral support. Trimmed in suede, they sport vibrant red stitching – picking up the detail introduced by the red bodywork pinstripe. Red is also used as a background to the tachometer and also appears on the steering wheel stitching, which is finished in Alcantara and leather. The tactile steering wheel now includes a red marker to indicate "top dead center," another feature derived directly from racing. The rear seats also feature red stitching.
Dark Smoke coloring is used throughout the interior to help allow the driver to focus entirely on the elements that are most important – the gauges, switchgear and controls. Consequently the headliner is black (no moonroof is available with the JUKE NISMO) and there is a gloss "piano black" finish around the ventilation and audio controls. There is also new smoked grey trim around the gear selector.
In the footwell, the standard black rubber pedals have been upgraded to a metallic finish, and there is a NISMO badge visible on the dead pedal. The NISMO logo has also been precision-stitched into the seatbacks.
Other standard content includes privacy glass, Nissan Intelligent Key® with Push Button Start and the I-CON (Integrated Control) system with automatic air conditioning.
Revised Powertrain for Improved Dynamics
NISMO's spirit of innovation and determination, born on the racetrack in 1984, remains at the heart of the performance brand today. This DNA has been injected into the JUKE NISMO in the form of a reworked version of Nissan's advanced inline 4-cylinder 1.6-liter DOHC aluminium-alloy Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG
By Zach Bowman
See also: 2014 Nissan GT-R Track Edition loses rear seats, gains performance, 2013 Nissan NV200 hauls itself into McCormick Place, Nissan to build Golf-fighter in Spain.