2014 Nissan Juke Nismo RS Preview: 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show

The 2014 Nissan Juke Nismo RS gives us yet another flavor of Juke to whet our insatiable appetite for this uniquely-styled, fun-to-drive subcompact crossover.  The Juke Nismo RS shows us that Nissan remains firmly committed to one of the most unusual people movers on the market, and it also hints that we have yet to see the limits of what can be accomplished with its platform.

What’s New for the 2014 Nissan Juke Nismo RS:

• The 2014 Juke Nismo RS offers slightly more aggressive styling
• The crossover features a more powerful engine

New 2014 Nissan Juke Nismo RS: Styling and Design

The 2014 Nissan Juke Nismo RS doesn’t look all that different on the outside when compared against last year's standard Nismo model, but there are a few subtle, aggressive hints - such as extensive red pin-striping - that this version of the crossover is something special.  Its body kit also sets it apart from the base Juke by a country mile.  Inside, the Nismo RS boasts a set of Recaro seats that represent a significant upgrade over past Nismo editions of the Nissan, and their thick bolsters should appeal to performance fans.

New 2014 Nissan Juke Nismo RS: What’s Under the Hood

Also of interest to speed junkies will be the extra power offered by the 2014 Nissan Juke Nismo RS' turbocharged engine.  Displacing the same 1.6-liters as last year's direct-injection four-cylinder, the Juke Nismo RS turns up the boost and opens up the exhaust to squeeze out 215 horses and 210 lb-ft of twist.  This is a fair bit more than the 188 ponies available with the base Juke, and trumps even the Nismo's 197 horsepower rating.  A six-speed manual transmission - only available with front-wheel drive models - is necessary to snag all of that extra grunt, however, as ordering the RS with all-wheel drive and its requisite CVT gearbox bumps output down to 211 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.

New 2014 Nissan Juke Nismo RS: What Autobytel Thinks

We have always loved the Juke, and the 2014 Nissan Juke Nismo RS gives us even more reason to be enamored of the subcompact crossover, as the model includes a stiff suspension system, excellent handling, and limited-slip front differential (standard with front-wheel drive models).  The progression of Nismo goodness from Nissan has us holding on to the hope that one day the automaker is going to unleash an absolutely crazy version of the Juke that will simply astound us with its performance and agility.  Until then, we've got three distinct Juke experiences to enjoy.