Nissan’s plan to expand its sporty Nismo brand is well underway, and the latest vehicle to wear a Nismo badge is one not sold in the U.S., the Nissan Pulsar. The Pulsar Nismo concept debuted in Paris as a design study, but we hear a production model could be in the works.
The Pulsar Nismo concept gets flared fenders and a more aggressive-looking “Double-Wing” front valance with characteristic red accents on the front lip and side skirts.
In back, you’ll find a diffuser-style rear bumper, a center-mounted dual exhaust, and carbon fiber rear spoiler. The hatch is finished in satin gray, and rides on 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 235/35R19 tires. Nissan says it used airflow analysis to design the body and improve aerodynamics. Inside, the Pulsar Nismo gets Alcantara-trimmed sport seats, a three-spoke sports steering wheel, alloy pedals, and a red tachometer.
The concept has been lowered from the standard Pulsar’s ride height, and features unique spring and damper settings. Steering has also been modified for more direct response. Nissan says more details will be announced later, but Auto Express learned a few more juicy bits of info from the Paris show floor. The U.K. publication says a production version will get a 1.6-liter turbo-four producing 247 hp, with a Nismo RS variant to follow with 275 hp. That places the hatchback squarely in Ford Focus ST and Volkswagen GTI territory, but as the Pulsar isn’t sold here, don’t expect to see a C-segment hot hatch option from Nissan in the U.S. anytime soon. Nissan did, however, unveil a Note Nismo earlier this year, so there’s still hope that we could get at least one Nissan hot hatch.
Elie Chahine 