The Nissan Pulsar Nismo, a sporting flagship variant of the Japanese firm's new Volkswagen Golf rival, has been unveiled at the Paris motor show.
As first reported by Autocar back in June, Nissan has given its C-segment car a sporting makeover, sharpening up the handling and installing a more powerful engine.
Officially Nissan says the hot Pulsar is "a design study explores the styling and engineering possibilities of a sporting flagship for the Pulsar range", but it also hints that the variant is highly likely to make production.
The concept’s paintwork is finished in satin grey, the front bumper features a layered double-wing with red detailing as well as larger, optimised air intakes and prominent brake cooling vents.
A lower ride height, deeper side skirts and 19in alloy wheels shod with 235/35 R19 tyres give the Pulsar Nismo a muscular appearance. The rear sports a diffuser-style rear bumper and central twin exhaust pipes. Completing the motorsport-oriented look are a carbonfibre rear spoiler and flared wheel arches.
The interior has sculpted Alcantara sport seats, a sporty three-spoke steering wheel and alloy pedals.
Nissan says the Pulsar Nismo Concept's suspension – tweaked from the standard Pulsar road car – has been honed on the racetrack. It incorporates revised spring and damper settings, and the steering has been tweaked for a more direct response and to give the car more agility.
Of the most significance, though, will be tweaks to the Pulsar’s engine. Although Nissan has refrained from offering any official details, the most likely candidate for tuning is the 187bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol, which is due to be offered in the Pulsar range next year.
That same engine has already been confirmed in the Juke Nismo RS, which is due to go on sale in December, where it produces 212bhp and 210lb ft.
Rather than make the Pulsar Nismo a full-blooded hot hatch, it seems likely that Nissan will leave room for an even hotter Nismo RS variant that could follow late next year.
The Pulsar is part of the manufacturer's long-stated plan to "democratise performance" by producing more Nismo performance variants across its model range.
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No question about it
No GTI-R then
Is 1.6 litres enough?
Even ignoring lap times, all the major players in this class have this size of engine which could make the Pulsar feel more than a little flat. Here's hoping the reports of a 1.6 are incorrect or that Nismo are trying to beat AMG at the horsepower per litre stakes....
Nurburgring again then
Erm, you might have to help me out here. The GTI-R was an awfully long time ago and I can't think of another.
So, the curse of the Nurburgring lap record strikes again huh? Will be interesting to see who is actually fastest when all the dust settles. It would probably have been prudent not to crow on about it so much though. I'm partcularly looking at you, Honda.
Past masters