Hello Nismo _

Like AMG (Mercedes), M Performance (BMW), Mazdaspeed, even TRD (Toyota Racing Development), Nismo stands for more. Actually, it stands for motorsports – Nissan Motorsports to be sure – and with that you get more. More style, more performance, more technology, more fun – it’s all there in the 2013 Nissan Juke Nismo.

Founded in 1984, Nismo exists to bridge the proverbial gap between racing and street performance. It transfers what it learns on the race track over to parts and accessories that go directly onto its various production vehicles, as well as the shelves of aftermarket parts retailers worldwide. As such, Nismo has competed in various prototype, open wheel and sports car series’ in Japan for many years. In fact, Nissan had been racing long before the official start of its motorsports and performance division. That isn’t going to change.

When people conjure up images of Nissan race cars, the predominant images are of the R35 GT-R that have been competing in the Super GT and FIA GT Championship series for years now. Nismo is also active in other series’ and races around the world, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Formula Drift, Lucas Oil Offroad Series and, more recently, has entered the Australian V8 Supercars series with some V8-powered Altimas race cars. The Nissan Leaf Nismo RC and, of course, the new 2014 Garage 56 electric ZEOD RC race car (set to appear in 2014 at Le Mans) are two of its newest and most cutting-edge racing innovations.

On the production side, Nismo badges can be found on the high-performance 370Z platform and, in some markets, the GT-R – Nissan’s halo performance car since 2009. Of course, you can buy Nismo parts and accessories directly through most Nissan dealerships in Canada. There are also aftermarket parts retailers and distributors that can locate exactly what you’re looking for in North America as well as the Japanese domestic market (JDM). You can even find Nismo parts for many late-model Nissan, Infiniti as well as Datsun vehicles from the 240SX to the Sunny 1200 and many in between.

I’ve driven a few Nismo-badged vehicles in the past – the 2005 Nismo 350Z and its predecessor the 370Z Nismo Edition a couple summers ago – and they proved to be a blast to drive, both oozing the extra performance and style that Nismo promises. The 2013 Juke AWD is just the latest Nismo to go under my right foot.

To read the full review of the 2013 Nissan Juke Nismo on the IGNITION MAGAZINE website!