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Nissan sets sights on front wheel-drive Nurburgring record, announces 275-horsepower Pulsar Nismo RS

The Nissan Pulsar may be a small hatchback, but its goals are anything but.

Auto Express is reporting that Nissan has announced a 275-horsepower Pulsar Nismo RS, a range-topping version of the upcoming 247-hp Nismo S. The new car is setting its sights on the front-wheel drive production lap record at the famed Nurburging race track.

The current record of 7:54 was set by the RenaultSport Megane Trophy-R. Like the Nissan, the Trophy-R is a hot hatch with over 270 hp, but it tips the scales at a svelte 2,821 pounds. The Pulsar’s curb weight will likely have to fall somewhere beneath that to compete.

The exact powertrain layout of the suped-up Pulsar is unknown, but it’s probably down to two candidates: the 1.6-liter turbo four from the Juke Nismo RS or a version of the 1.8-liter four-cylinder from the Sentra Nismo concept that surfaced last November.

The Juke’s 1.6-liter put out 215 hp and 210 pound-feet of torque, but considering the Japanese automaker’s penchant for high horsepower-per-liter figures, there’s surely room to grow there.

A simpler solution may be to use the Sentra Nismo’s 1.8, which itself is just a larger version of the Juke’s powerplant. The boosted four-banger produced 240 hp and 240 lb/ft when it was shown in 2013.

RELATED: Nissan releases Note Nismo for performance arm’s 30th anniversary

In a world full of hot hatches, it may be tough for Nissan to emerge on top with the ‘Ring’s FWD lap record, but Nismo knows a thing or two about the famed German racetrack. The 2015 GT-R Nismo currently holds the fourth-fastest lap time for a production vehicle, and the manufacturer tests nearly every Nismo vehicle there.

If the Pulsar does wrestle the title from the Megane, however, it may not rein for long: a 280-hp Honda Civic Type R is in the works for the 2015 model year.

The Pulsar Nismo S and Pulsar Nismo RS are expected to debut at the Paris Motor Show in October.

(Photos via Auto Express)

Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
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