What are we looking at?
Nismo's take on the Nissan Pulsar. Technically we're guessing, as Nismo has only revealed that it's changed the suspension and added 19-inch alloys. The rest is fairly obvious and predictable, so there's a more assertive nose with plenty of new air vents, some red lower winglets and side skirts, Nismo badging and big exhausts out back. We're at a bit of a loss as to why it's not the GTI-R, as per previous hot Pulsars, but then Nissan's pushing its Nismo brand far more globally than it once did.
What's the best thing about it?
Well, it looks good doesn't it, which, given the best thing we said about the standard Pulsar is that it's pretty spacious, is a good thing. So what we've got here is a big, hot hatchback, with some Nismo involvement. There are no technical details as yet, so we'll have to take a punt, which means it's either got a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine under its bonnet or a 2.0-litre turbo as powers its distant French cousin, the Renaultsport Mégane. That 1.6-litre unit is putting out 218hp in the Nismo Juke RS, but for the Pulsar Nismo to set a Nürburgring lap time that won't have its rivals laughing over their steins at the Pistenklause perhaps that blown 2.0-litre unit is the answer.
Show stopper or filler?
Bit of a stopper, though we wish Nissan wasn't so tight with the details. It's a Nismo, which means there's a world of tech-obsessed fans out there who'll be desperate for some numbers, and all we've currently got is 19-inch wheels... Over to Honda then for the Civic Type R, as they're far less tight-lipped.