As promised, Nissan unveils new NISMO plans – but they’re a bit underwhelming

By Nick Jaynes February 26, 2013

Last week, Nissan teased that it would unveil the new NISMO world headquarters in Yokohama, Japan alongside some new and exciting NISMO vehicles.

A large part of the announcement’s allure was the promise of new NISMO offerings: ones that had only previously existed in video games.

Well Nissan has finally made the reveal and, well, it’s a bit disappointing.

What will be the first offerings from NISMO, which will now stand as Nissan’s performance brand? The Nissan Juke NISMO, the 370Z NISMO, and the GT-R NISMO. All exciting, sure, but aside from the GT-R NISMO, they already existed.

Nissan admits the Juke NISMO has already been offered in Europe and Japan but will soon send it Stateside. The 370Z NISMO has been on sale in the US for some time now but will be soon unveiled in Europe. The GT-R, which already stands as one of the world’s finest supercars, is going to get a bit faster with some NISMO tinkering. This could be exciting news if Nissan had detailed any of the GT-R NISMO facts and figures but it didn’t.

So which of these “new” NISMO cars had only existed in video game land before this announcement? Supposedly it’s the Juke NISMO, which originally debuted in Gameloft’s Asphalt 7: Heat. Since it already exists – and isn’t new at all – we’ll call Nissan’s claim last week blatant false advertising.

While this announcement isn’t especially exiting at this very moment, it may prove more exciting in the future. We’d love to see a new Nissan Sentra SE-R NISMO or something along those lines in the near future. Nissan recently unveiled the new Nissan Note. A high-tech compact hatch like that could make a pretty cool Volkswagen GTI competitor after receiving the NISO touch.

None of those vehicles have been hinted at, though; so don’t hold your breath.

Editors' Recommendations

Nissan reinvigorates its 370Z with 750 hp and a carbon fiber diet

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.