Nissan Juke Nismo (2013)

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, getting air flow round the rear wheels and away from the car as quickly and efficiently as possible. To increase the Nissan Juke Nismo's visual bulk, the front wings are also more muscular and are now finished entirely in the body colour to give a truly premium feel. The door mirrors have been coloured red to give a clear and quick indication to the casual observer that this is not a standard Nissan Juke. The B-pillar is now finished in gloss 'piano black', also promoting a more upmarket and sporty image.

At the rear, the bumper is deeper than before and the red pinstripe is also visible on the black sill. Above, a stylish tailgate spoiler is painted in the body colour and houses the high-level brake light. In common with all exterior modifications, this is designed to increase front and rear downforce, so enhancing the Nissan Juke Nismo's dynamic performance and efficiency.

Equally, the stunning new 18-inch light-alloy wheels feature wider tyres to give drivers additional traction during cornering and further boost the car's on-road presence. One inch larger than on the standard Juke, the diamond-cut alloys feature a 10 twin-spoke design and are finished in dark anthracite. Both the 2WD and 4WD versions of the car ride on Continental ContiSport Contact5 225/45/R18 tyres.

The Nissan Juke Nismo is available in three stunning exterior shades - Silver Grey, Pearl White and Metallic Black. All come with red door mirrors and the matching pinstripe around base of car.

However, with personalisation a key part of the Nismo brand DNA, owners can add further options to the specification of their vehicle. Decals are available, featuring a wide roof stripe which stretches from midway down the bonnet over to the rear spoiler. Side stickers, which emphasise the car's powerful waistline from the front doors to the dramatic rear haunches, are also offered as an option. The decals are available in the same three colours as the overall car, allowing owners to select a colour that will contrast with their vehicle's exterior finish.

Interior design: sporty 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 Nissan 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, which is finished in alcantara and leather. The tactile wheel now includes a marker to indicate 'top dead centre', another feature derived directly from motorsport.

Darkening elements of the cabin just outside of the driver's eye line is another Nismo styling cue and allows the driver to focus entirely on the elements which are most important - the dials, switchgear and controls. Consequently the headlining of the Nissan Juke Nismo is black, 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 footstop. The same branding has been precision-stitched into the seat squabs.

Powertrain and engineering: revised for improved dynamics

Nismo was born on the racetrack in 1984 through a spirit of innovation and determination which is still at the heart of the performance brand today. It's this DNA which has been injected into the Juke to create the first Nismo road car for Europe.

Under the bonnet of the Nissan Juke Nismo is a reworked version of Nissan's advanced four-cylinder 1.6-litre Direct Injection Gasoline Turbocharged (DIG-T) petrol engine. Cementing the link to Nismo's track activity, the engine features the same technologies as the unit installed in Nissan's revolutionary and experimental DeltaWing race car.

Both power and torque have been increased in comparison to the standard DIG-T variant, but boosts in output don't come at the expense of emissions and efficiency. Power rises from 140kw (190PS) to 147kw (200PS), while torque is boosted from 240Nm to 250Nm.

A version of the vJuke Nismo offering greater performance is currently under development, ready to deliver an even more focussed driving experience with a unique suspension set-up and power increase.

Improved performance is only one element of Nissan Juke Nismo's dynamic appeal. The suspension settings have been completely revised, leading to greater traction and improved body response and roll control, while the car's steering has been reworked for sportier and more direct handling. Thanks to increased resistance at the wheel, more feedback is evident at medium and high speeds.

The Nissan Juke Nismo is 4,165mm long, 30mm more than the standard car. At 1,770mm, it's 5mm wider than its sibling while the height and wheelbase remain unchanged, at 1,565mm and 2,530mm respectively.

Despite all of the modifications, weight gains are negligible. The 2WD car weighs 1,295kg while the 4WD model is 1,441kg - both figures are almost identical to the equivalent version of the standard Juke.

Performance: excitement without compromising efficiency

The 2WD six-speed manual Nissan Juke Nismo gets from 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in 7.8 seconds and has a top speed of 215km/h (134mph). Fuel economy is 6.9 l/100km (40.9mpg) on the Combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 159g/km - identical to the standard, less powerful Juke DIG-T.

The 4WD model with its CVT accelerates from 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in 8.2 seconds and has a top speed of 200km/h (125mph). Fuel economy is 7.4 l/100km (38.1mpg) on the Combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 169g/km.

Torque vectoring: supercar technology in the Juke

In common with standard versions of the Juke 4WD, the all-wheel-drive Nismo variant benefits from Nissan's innovative Torque Vectoring System (TVS). It's a technology that has, until now, only been found on top-of-the-range premium vehicles and its arrival in the Juke was a first for compact car segments.

The 4WD chassis employs a multi-link rear suspension and the latest version of Nissan's ALL-MODE 4x4-i electronic technology. Fitted as standard, the TVS is designed to limit understeer by increasing torque to the outside rear wheel, helping the car follow its intended course. TVS also enhances agility and means the Nissan Juke Nismo provides exceptional ride comfort and handling in spite of its higher ground clearance when compared to other compact cars.

As well splitting torque front to rear - up to a maximum of 50:50 - the TVS means it can also be shifted from side-to-side across the rear axle. Information collected by various sources (measuring wheel speed, steering angle, yaw rate and lateral G-force) is interpreted to anticipate the driver's intention.

TVS actions are relayed to the driver via a real-time graphic display on the instrument panel depicting the torque distribution under all conditions.

Nissan Connect with enhanced functionality

The Nissan Juke Nismo is among the first Nissans to feature an enhanced version of the Nissan Connect infotainment system. Already an enormously successful system, Connect continues to offer an exceptional package of navigation and connectivity in one standard fit, integrated package.

Benefitting from a larger 5.8-inch touch-screen display, the latest system includes Google 'Send to Car' navigation software allowing routes planned at home to be transferred directly to the car. Additional connected services include Google Points of Interest (POI), nearest fuel prices, plus flight and weather information. Enhanced satellite navigation functionality also includes exit view and lane guidance, in addition to the full Bluetooth connectivity and reversing camera systems that Connect users have come to rely on.

NDCS Nissan Dynamic Control System (NDCS)

The Nissan Juke Nismo offers further control through Nissan Dynamic Control System (NDCS). This advanced central command system allows the driver to alter the car's dynamic settings as well as make changes to everyday functions including climate control.

The centrally mounted digital screen changes display, colour and functions depending on the mode selected by the driver. Settings alter throttle maps, steering effort and CVT shift schedules on the 4WD Nissan Juke Nismo.

In the D-Mode Sport setting, the throttle map is retuned to deliver higher engine revs and sharper responses, while in the Eco setting, engine revs are reduced for more gentle progress. In the M-CVT version of the DIG-T engine Juke, the Sport setting even introduces a 'rhythmic' auto up shift that simulates manual changes at the red-line.

Steering effort in Sport is firmer and more responsive, while in Normal it's lighter and more linear. In the Eco setting, the quantity of cold air circulating in the cabin is optimised, reducing the load on the climate control and lowering the system's power consumption.

Real time trip information can also be displayed giving average speed, fuel economy, journey times and engine torque and turbo boost as well as a daily fuel consumption history. The system even incorporates a G-Force indicator.