Nissan and its performance partner Nismo have been linked together for years, but now it’s official: Nismo has been confirmed as Nissan’s exclusive performance and motorsport brand. The Japanese automaker marked the occasion with the opening of a new Nismo corporate headquarters and R&D facility in Yokohama, Japan.
The good news for Nissan enthusiasts, as delivered by Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, is that the Nismo brand will be expanding rapidly to cover a variety of Nissan models. In Ghosn’s words, “Nismo will bring new excitement to the Nissan portfolio with a broader range of affordable and innovative performance models for more markets and more people. Whether it’s a small car or a sports car, if it’s wearing the Nismo badge it offers something special – quality, functionality, and efficiency, with Nismo’s distinctive styling, sporty handling and dynamic performance capabilities.”
In the United States, the first new offering will be the Juke Nismo, possibly followed by a new Nismo 370Z (which Nissan says was developed for the European market). There are even plans for a Nismo GT-R, too, but details on what that may or may not include are lacking.
Also, don’t forget that you can get discounted new car pricing with a free quote through qualified local dealer partners.
Nissan will be expanding its motorsports presence via the Nismo brand as well, and plans to run Nismo-prepared cars in the 24 Hours of LeMans (in 2014), the Australian V8 Supercar Series, GT3, Super GT and the Blancpain Endurance Series.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
