Back in May 2013, we told you to look out for a future Nissan rival to the Volkswagen Golf in 2014 – which materialised, exactly a year later, as the European Nissan Pulsar (pictured), replete with ‘V-Motion’ face.
Now, Autocar UK reports that the new kid on the block could be setting its sights on the very daddy of hot-hatches – is the spirit of the Nissan Pulsar GTi-R returning to haunt the Volkswagen Golf GTI?
Except it most likely won’t be called the GTi-R – Nissan executive VP Andy Palmer told the British publication that the carmaker’s Nismo performance arm is set to extend its product range across different price points.
Would a Nismo-tuned Pulsar be amongst that widened range? “It’s not something I’d like to confirm now, but would a C-segment hatch be the great place to have a Nismo? You might say so,” he told Autocar UK.
Palmer added that Nismo was working on two levels of performance. “You’ve got the Nismo S, which is more about exploiting the ride and handling of a car. Most of us can’t drive within the power of the engine we have anyway, even though we’d like to think we’re God-like in our abilities behind the wheel.
“Most of us basically just need the suspension and steering to do more. So the first step is a little bit of horsepower and a lot of improvements to the chassis dynamics.
Nissan Juke Nismo (left) and Juke Nismo RS (right)
“On top of that we come with the RS, which has got all the extra power. So as we go forward over time wherever you would expect there to be a GT or an S in a normal-grade line-up, there will be a Nismo S and a Nismo RS.”
Palmer also said that Nismo is keen on hot variants of ‘unlikely’ models, like the Juke, which has recently been facelifted. “Anyone can go out and buy a Juke Nismo, which is signed off by Nismo and is inclusive of race technology.
“We’ve redefined the brand of Nissan as ‘innovation and excitement for everyone’. It’s about democratisation of exotic sports cars – even the most expensive Nismo is only US$151k (RM483k), which isn’t a lot of money for the amount of performance you get.”
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FUGLY
Suprima rear butt far more uglier.
If you think the golf is prettier or anywhere near the word “interesting”, please don’t reproduce.
I believe that you can do it, Nissan!
WTF looks of Nissan Juke,katak face make kids frighten cry and scare the old folks when night driving.Fugly
real frog face is porsche car…
TCM.
Pls bring in 2014 facelifted JUKE!!!
everyone wants a piece of hot hatch market. End of the day golf is still the best all rounder
I like frogs. . Just bring it.
Good start, bring in the GTR spirit, and kick the VW asses. Please sell cheaper :)
tanchong will bring this by 2018, just in time for new pulsar to come out worldwide
Golf Often Copied, Never Equalled.
never equalled….just surpassed
Hello Samy Velu. Tell me what car has surpassed Golf?
So far nothing, not even the A45, despite it being a very good car. No, im not a Golf fan, but we must tell the truth la, no,point lying,
Got! Proton Suprima S loh. They always like to Suprima S vs Golf! Suprima S handling sure better than Golf!
Sorry.. i think Vios TRD is better than Golf.
wah lao eh suddenly so many butthurt golf gti owners here
As long as they don’t put a CVT in, this is something to look out for.
Rmb the super sentra nismo concept ?
Will this pulsar equipped with that sengine as stated in nismo sentra concept .
But still noptg to compare v golf la …
Golf rules malaysia hothatch
The suprima most fugly hothatch ever
I would take this pulsar instead of suprima fugly butt looo
The old school Pulsar GTI-R pwned MK7 Golf for sure.
Why compare suprima with pulsar DIG? Pulsar is much more expensive – 1,070,000 baht in Thai. would easily be RM107,000 in bolehland.
rear looks like a focus sedan.. lol