Nismo models to spice up Nissan range

NISSAN has confirmed it will reveal an even hotter Nismo version of its flagship GT-R supercar within 12 months as part of a massive expansion of its in-house performance arm.

Speaking at the opening of the new global Nismo headquarters in Yokohama, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn announced plans for the rapid introduction of sporty Nismo-tweaked road cars – at the rate of at least one per year.

The GT-R will join Nismo versions of the Juke mini-SUV, which is already on sale in Europe and Japan, and the 370Z coupe that was unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon last month.

Mr Ghosn said that, while the Nismo models will be developed at Yokohama, they will be built on the same production line as standard variants and that Nismo will be integrated with the product development process for all new models.

The relationship will be similar to that of AMG and Mercedes-Benz, or M Division and BMW.

“Nismo will bring new excitement to the Nissan portfolio with a broader range of affordable and innovative performance models for more markets and more people,” he said.



Left: The new Nismo headquarters in Japan.

“Whether it’s a small car or a sports car, if it’s wearing the Nismo badge it offers something special quality, functionality and efficiency, with Nismo’s distinctive styling, sporty handling and dynamic performance capabilities.”The new Nismo facility will give the organisation the resources to expand beyond motorsport engineering and focus on the development of road cars, while gathering all its expertise in one place.

Around 180 employees occupy the new headquarters, where the workshop, engine shop, fabrication rooms, and areas for grinding and carbon composite are all on one floor, along with a parts warehouse.

There is also a showroom with space for up to eight vehicles to be displayed, providing a retail area almost twice as large as Nismo’s previous outlet at the Omori factory.

Nismo’s global exposure through computer games gives the brand strong recognition among the next generation of driving enthusiasts, with the ‘Asphalt 7: Heat’ title providing the first opportunity to ‘drive’ a Juke Nismo.

Motorsport will not be left behind in the drive to produce road cars, as Mr Ghosn announced a new Le Mans contender for 2014 will have an electrified drivetrain capable of delivering “zero emissions on demand”.

Nismo is also heavily involved with Nissan’s Australian V8 Supercars entry from this year, with cars representing the Altima mid-size sedan that will launch in this country during the second half of the year.