Nissan maps out Nismo cars
* Leaf, 370Z and GTR versions likely
* Previewed by Juke concept car
Nissan says that many of its models will get hot Nismo versions, should the public reaction to the Nissan Nismo Juke Concept be positive.
The Nismo Juke Concept was launched at the Tokyo show to highlight how a hot Nissan could look. Nissan's executive vice-president, Andy Palmer, explained why Nissan chose to use its Nismo brand to launch its hot versions.
'How do we express excitement? With Nismo versions at the top of the lines. Juke is the most obvious car to put that on, but all key brand drivers for Nissan will have a Nismo version.
Palmer said the 370Z coupe, GT-R and the Leaf EV were cars he could envisage getting the Nismo treatment but said the cars won't just be about power.
'I'm not going to get into a horsepower race, in my mind Nismo should be more about ride and handling - but I'd expect 10% more power for Nismo versions, he said.
Nismo president Shoichi Miyatani said he could imagine a Nismo version of the Micra - similar to what alliance partner Renault has done with the Clio Renaultsport.
