Nissan is getting serious about improving its performance credentials, and the newly announced Nismo Cars Business Department means that enthusiasts may see an increased availability of sporty vehicles from the firm soon.
"With the combined expertise of Nissan group companies, NISMO road cars will make customers enjoy Nissan cars more than ever," Takao Katagiri, president and CEO of Nissan Motorsports International, said.
According to Nissan, Nismo’s range of performance-tuned models will enter more segments and will be available in more markets soon, including Japan, North America, Europe and the Middle East. The new business strategy “will plan and develop more appealing products in a shorter time”, and the project will boost the output of Nismo-tuned models from the current 15,000 units a year.
Given Nissan’s wide range of vehicles, Nismo tunes a fairly limited number of models at the moment, including the 370Z, GT-R, Juke, Note, and Patrol (yes, really)
There are some fantastic performance vehicles in Nissan’s past, such as the twin-turbo 300ZX, 240SX, and multiple generations of the GT-R, but the firm’s current choices for enthusiasts are somewhat lacklustre. The existing GT-R and 370Z are pretty old, and the Juke Nismo is rather unsatisfying.
Creating the Nismo Cars Business Department could be a sign that Nissan is finally getting more serious performance. Until now, the brand hasn’t seemed to take the market seriously. The brand’s enthusiast’s widely lauded the Datsun-510-inspired IDx Concept, but the company refused to build it. The Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge would have stuffed the GT-R’s 3.8-litre biturbo V6 into a sedan, and the vehicle seemed incredibly close to production. However, the execs axed the four-door.
Meanwhile, a recent video with actress Margot Robbie hints that the Bladeglider might still have a future, but Nissan faces a legal dispute with DeltaWing over the vehicle’s narrow-front-wide-rear design. The odd layout might also be too weird for some buyers if production ever actually happens.
Source: Nissan
Gallery: 2017 Nissan GT-R NISMO
NISSAN SETS UP NEW UNIT TO BOOST NISMO ROAD CAR BUSINESS
YOKOHAMA, Japan – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has set up a new unit to expand its NISMO road car business by making a greater range of models available to customers in more markets.
The NISMO Cars Business Department is part of Autech Japan, Inc., a Nissan group company that makes converted vehicles. Using talent from Nissan, Autech, Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd. and other group companies, it will plan and develop more appealing products in a shorter time.
Nissan plans to expand the range of NISMO road cars to new segments, market them more globally and boost the lineup in existing markets, including Japan, North America, Europe and the Middle East. This will help increase sales of NISMO cars, which are now about 15,000 units a year.
Nissan introduced the NISMO brand to its mainstream model lineup in 2013 to bring customers more innovations and excitement. Featuring performance and styling developed through NISMO's motorsports activities, the cars offer a sporty driving experience combined with Nissan's quality, reliability and durability.
NISMO road cars introduced so far include the GT-R, 370Z, JUKE and Sentra in the U.S. – plus the Note and Patrol in markets outside the U.S.
"As a Nissan sub-brand, NISMO further builds upon the core values of Nissan cars," said Takao Katagiri, president and CEO of both Autech Japan and Nissan Motorsports International. "With the combined expertise of Nissan group companies, NISMO road cars will make customers enjoy Nissan cars more than ever."
The new business unit will also work with Nissan Motorsports International on marketing. This includes showing NISMO road cars at Nissan dealerships and showrooms and holding events and activities for NISMO car owners.
About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized annually by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year since 2010. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at NissanUSA.com and InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the U.S. media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.
About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2015, the company sold more than 5.4 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of 12.2 trillion yen. Nissan engineers, manufactures and markets the world's best-selling all-electric vehicle in history, the Nissan LEAF. Nissan's global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan manages operations in six regions: ASEAN & Oceania; Africa, Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America and North America. Nissan has been partnered with French manufacturer Renault since 1999 and Mitsubishi Motors since 2016 under the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/. You can also follow @NissanMotor on Twitter.
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