Grey hot hatch?
This is the go-faster Nismo version of the otherwise dull Pulsar hatchback- though Nissan is describing it as a concept. There's GT-R and Z car DNA in there now with Nismo's involvement, but we cannot help but think they should have badged it GTI-R like Nissan's previous loony hot hatch based on the Pulsar/Sunny.
Power, power, power?
Err, we're going to have to guess here, as this Paris show car is merely a styling concept. While we've no doubt the engineers know exactly what's going on, they're all being a bit tight-lipped in France. Conjecture, with a little bit of knowledge will have to do, so we reckon it'll be a tuned up version of the 1.6-litre turbocharged unit that powers the Juke Nismo. Usefully, there's a Juke Nismo RS in Paris, featuring 218hp - up 18hp - so that looks like a potential option, perhaps with the wick turned up a bit further to better compete against the current breed of mega hatches. There's always the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in its Renaultsport Mégane relation should the French want some inter-group competition as well.
Anything else?
Expect it to set a lap time around the Nürburgring before it reaches showrooms, with the time used extensively in its marketing. If it's good, that is. It'll need to be if it's to keep up with the current selection of mega-hatches now available.
Kyle Fortune - 3 Oct 2014