A few days before the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show finally kicks off, Nissan is previewing its event lineup with an off-site display of its 2017 Nissan Sentra NISMO in the downtown area. Yes, the Nissan Sentra now has a NISMO variant.
It was nearly five years ago when a sporty version of the Sentra hit the market. This version was the Sentra SE-R. Moving forward to this day, the Sentra NISMO is the latest in Nissan’s compact performance sedans, bringing with it the motorsports-inspired NISMO factory-tuned performance. Further increasing the appeal of the Sentra NISMO is the fact that it is available at less than $25,000 when it arrives in January 2017.
So, there you have it, an inexpensive, practical car with a sporty personality and a few twists. Michael Bunce, vice president for Product Planning at Nissan North America, remarked that the Sentra NISMO would be popular in Southern California and around the United States, given its performance specs without the hefty price. Of course, the 2017 Nissan Sentra is offered in other grade levels: S, SV, SR, SR Turbo and SL.
So, what can we expect from the 2017 Nissan Sentra NISMO? Of course, the first thing to consider in a sporty car is its engine. Right at the heart of the Sentra NISMO is a 1.6-liter Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) turbocharged engine that could provide 188 hp of output and 177 lb-ft of torque and is mated to six-speed manual transmission or an advanced, tuned Xtronic gearbox, which is Nissan’s term for a continuously variable transmission.
Enforcing the NISMO tag of this Nissan Sentra is a number of sporty elements like a rear "layered double wing" design on the bottom of the front end, as well as side skirts, a revised rear end and a rear spoiler. Also noticeable are its contrasting red accent stripes as well as 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport all-season tires. The Sentra NISMO also features a NISMO-tuned suspension with monotube rear dampers and updated struts and springs at the front.
Ride height is now lower by 0.4 inches. Stopping power comes courtesy of 11.7-inch vented disc brakes on the front and 11.5-inch discs at the rear. Inside, the Sentra NISMO features a bespoke leather-wrapped steering wheel with Alcantara, a red tachometer, and NISMO carpets. Steering is made easier with an Electric Power Steering system.
At the 2017 LA Auto Show, the new 2017 Nissan Sentra NISMO will be displayed alongside other Nissan vehicles like the 2017 Versa Note, the 2017 JUKE Black Pearl Edition and the Nissan Rogue: Rogue One Star Wars Limited Edition. The Nissan exhibit will be located in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention. The show is scheduled to be on November 18 to 27.
