Nissan Juke Nismo RS – 215 hp high-riding hot-hatch

Find wild GT-R-powered Juke R too insane, but the mildly tuned-up Juke Nismo too plain? There’s now a middle ground for Americans to choose from (not us though, we don’t even get the base model) – the brand new Nissan Juke Nismo RS. This one gets unique engine, suspension, steering and brake tuning over the standard Nismo model.

Now the top Juke model in North America, the Nismo RS’ 1.6 litre direct-injection turbo engine is tuned up to offer 215 hp and 285 Nm of torque – up from the base Nismo’s 197 hp/250 Nm. But, that’s only for the six-speed manual (now with lower gear ratios), front-wheel drive variant though.

If you opt for the optional all-wheel drive system and Xtronic CVT transmission, engine output is pared down to 211 hp and 250 Nm. Nismo’s helical-geared Limited-Slip Differential (LSD) is also exclusive to the do-it-yourself model. It’s a no brainer, then – if you want a Juke Nismo RS, it’s manual, or nothing.

A series of special body and chassis reinforcements have been thrown in to improve the new model’s handling capabilities, along with retuned suspension and steering setups. Slowing down will be better too, with larger brakes at all corners (plus new ventilated units in the back) dressed up with red-painted calipers.

Despite its improved hardware, the Juke Nismo RS carries no other visual differentiation from the standard Nismo model, other than the subtle badge on the front grille. Inside though, the RS gets unique leather/suede Recaro front seats, Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel and carbon-look centre console trim pieces.

It may be a few years old now, but the Juke still looks like nothing else on the road, and the new Nismo RS enhancements only make it more and more attractive. A hotter, high-riding hot-hatch, anyone?

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