Not content with the giant-slaying performance credentials – and matching laps times – of the GT-R, Nissan is keen to break the current Nurburgring lap record for front wheel drive production cars. This honour currently belongs to Renault, which it claimed with a very special Megane RS, setting a time of seven minutes 54,36 seconds.
To attempt this feat Nissan will launch the Nismo Pulsar at the upcoming Paris Motor Show. Although the Pulsar name is well-known to South Africans, this isn’t a model that is available locally.
As reported on Autoexpress.co.uk (who chatted with Nissan insiders) the Japanese firm’s tuning arm is preparing a Nismo S, which will be aimed at the regular hot hatch brigade such as the VW Golf GTI and Ford Focus ST. Then there will also be a more powerful Nismo RS that will be similar to a Renault Megane RS and will be the model that tries its luck at the iconic track. It is said that the RS variant will feature focused suspension tuning and a limited slip differential, to help put down its power, which is believed to sit at just over 200 kW. We also suspect that the Nismo RS will weigh in at well under 1 300 kg. It will have to if it plans to make a serious run at the record.
Nissan isn’t the only manufacturer hoping to break records at the ‘Ring with a FWD hatch. Honda has set its sights on the record with it’s upcoming Civic Type-R, so the next few months will be very interesting in terms of who can go quickest the famed Green Hell.
