With the Nissan Juke as we know it nearing the end of its product life-cycle a very special version of it has been cooked up to celebrate, the JUKE NISMO RS.
With a healthy dose of extra horsepower, handling tweaks and style, the 2017 Nissan JUKE NISMO RS is a fitting crown for the funky compact crossover thing that’s been with us since 2011.
To start with it gets a tuned up version of its 1.6 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with up to 215 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. Extra power comes from a more aggressive engine tune and a high-performance exhaust system with larger tubing and tuning for a raspier sound.
The engine is also beefed up with more robust connecting rods and a heavier duty clutch assembly. This of course is with the six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive. In this guise, the manual transmission is a beefier version than found in the standard Juke NISMO and has a more aggressive final drive ratio of 4.428:1. There’s also a limited-slip differential for better traction and less torque steer.
If you step up to all-wheel drive and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) and the torque vectoring all-wheel drive, power is slightly less at 211 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque.
The all-wheel drive system though coming at the cost of slightly less horsepower offers advanced torque vectoring to limit understeer by increasing torque to the outside rear wheel in hard cornering. It can divvy up torque with up to a 50:50 split front to rear.
To handle its new found power, structural reinforcements and a more aggressive suspension tune serve to sharpen steering and handling feel. The suspension has also been lowered slightly versus the standard Juke NISMO and larger front 12.6-inch brake rotors with red calipers fitted.
You’d expect visual and creature comfort upgrades too right? Well you won’t be disappointed. The interior gets some top of the game Recaro Sportster seats with red leather and black suede trim complete with NISMO logos.
A unique instrument cluster and sueded trims adorn the dash along with carbon fiber accents and red accent stitching throughout. A full array of interior features and technology are also included for its base price of $28,020.
But that’s not all. The exterior also gets amped up with with the NISMO body package complete with its red accent pieces along the lower fascia and side rockers. Black and machined face 18-inch alloy wheels also add to the look. Projector beam headlights with LED signature daytime running lights are also standard equipment.
The 2017 Nissan JUKE NISMO RS is on sale now at a Nissan dealership near you.
