Nissan Juke Nismo RS at 2013 Los Angeles Motor Show

Nissan

Nissan picked the Los Angeles show to reveal a pumped-up Juke Nismo RS version of its popular shrunken crossover.

This is the US-spec Nismo RS and changes are likely to be made before it went on sale in the UK, according to officials in LA. The car you see here will go on sale in America in December 2013 and it's likely to jump over the Pond in 2014.

As with all Nismo products, the Juke Nismo RS is a pretty focused performance edition. Power from the 1.6 four-cylinder turbo swells from 188bhp to a fulsome 215bhp, so this junior crossover should have the bark to match its bite.

The stylistic makeover comprises 18in wheels, lowered and stiffened suspension and revisions throughout the chassis, so it points, steers and handles more deftly than your regular or cooking Nissan Juke.

Nissan

The car on show in LA sported Recaro sports seats, Nismo branding and a lovely-feeling Alcantara-finished steering wheel to try and cement the link between this warm hatch alternative and the full-blown Nissan GT-R Nismo unveiled at this week's Tokyo Motor Show.

Nissan is investing heavily in its sporting sub-brand, as it sees the success enjoyed by more premium manufacturers such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes with their RS, M and AMG units.

Although we're not suggesting Nismo is fit yet to be mentioned in the same breath as those sporting icons, at this rate Nissan will soon be offering Nismo alternatives on most of its new-car range, giving it a useful distinction in the high-street battle for car buyers' hearts and minds.

On Bing: see more photos of the Nissan Juke Nismo RS
Read MSN's review of the Nissan Juke Nismo

By Tim Pollard, managing editor, MSN Cars