Nissan expands Nismo

Nissan's performance brand Nismo is set for a rapid expansion of new models.

The Japanese car maker has announced it has spun-off the division to create a new sub-brand called Nismo Cars Business Department, which will be responsible for expanding the range of high-performance vehciles as well as broaden the markets they are sold in.

The new Nismo division is paired up with Nissan's other tuning brand, Autech, and Nissan Motorsport International in order to try and speed up the development process of new models. At present Nismo has variants of the GT-R, 370Z, Juke and Sentra (US name for Pulsar).

"As a Nissan sub-brand, Nismo further builds upon the core values of Nissan cars," said Takao Katagiri, president and CEO of both Autech and Nissan Motorsports International. "With the combined expertise of Nissan group companies, Nismo road cars will make customers enjoy Nissan cars more than ever."

Nissan Australia only offers the GT-R Nismo at present but the local arm is expected to add the 370Z Nismo before the end of the year and has long maintained its preference to offer a number of Nismo models. 

Nismo currently sells 15,000 vehicles annually but did not name a target figure for the newly separated entity.

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