SUV OF SENSES

One of the undoubted stars of Nissan stand at the Tokyo Motor Show will be the Juke Nismo Concept, an idea of how a premium sports version of the successful compact crossover could look.

Although the Juke Nismo Concept  is not as aggressive as the Juke-R but it would be even more widely available. It's lower, wider and has a tougher stance than the standard Juke, so it is more sporty. The concept magnifies the unique mix of compact car agility, coupé-like responses and SUV strength.

Finished in signature Nismo colours of pearl white with red highlights, the concept model wears an aerodynamic body kit designed not just to look good, but also to be dynamically highly efficient. New parts include revised bumpers front and rear, wider fenders and sill side skirts. The grille pattern has been changed while the tailgate spoiler has been modified by the addition of side elements to control airflow more efficiently. Even the shape of the door mirrors has been altered to enhance the car's aerodynamic performance and reduce front and rear lift without increasing drag. This reduction in lift means the contact patch of the tyres has been increased to improve grip, which is further enhanced by the arrival of stylish new 19-inch alloy wheels.

The Nismo treatment includes also the chassis which has been lowered and stiffened, while the 1.6-litre direct injection turbo gasoline engine has been uprated to deliver more power and performance.

In the interior the parts that interact with the driver's senses - the steering wheel, pedals, gauges, shifter knob and door trims have been redesigned to provide greater involvement when driving. The tachometer’s dial and needle are illuminated in red. Also have been added special leather-trimmed bucket seats and the previously light coloured surfaces has been given a metallic coating to enhance the purposeful feeling of enhanced sporting quality in the cockpit.