What's all this about?
Nissan has given us a price on the fastest Juke it has yet made, the Nismo RS. It's on sale now for £21,650 on-the-road.
Can you remind me what I'd get for my money?
The Juke Nismo RS uses a 1.6-litre DIG-T petrol engine making 218hp and two torque figures. Opt for the front-wheel drive version and you get 280Nm, a manual six-speed gearbox and a mechanical limited slip differential. The all-wheel drive Juke Nismo RS gets an Xtronic CVT with paddle shifts and 250Nm. Expect either one to beat the 200hp Juke Nismo's pub stats of 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds and 134mph maximum speed.
Which one would you recommend?
The front-wheel drive model. More torque, an LSD and no CVT. What's not to like?
I'm not convinced.
OK, the two-wheel drive RS also has 40 per cent more cargo capacity, thanks to a reshaped boot, with a two-stage floor and fold-flat rear seats.
Oh, right, NOW I'm sold. What else do I get?
The RS gets body strengthening to increase torsional rigidity over the standard Nismo version, as well as 34mm larger front brake discs and revised springs and dampers. Options include Recaro bucket seats and a Safety Pack of electronic driver assist systems, while the RS comes in three colours - Storm White, Pearl Black and Blade Silver. It is the eighth new Nissan to be introduced during 2014, so it has been a busy year for the manufacturer that is ending with this RS special.
Matt Robinson - 23 Dec 2014