Post by
dmuramoto »
https://forums.nicoclub.com/dmuramoto-u129239.html
Tue Aug 24, 2010 10:20 pm
Just made it into Vancouver for the Nissan press event. We'll be driving production-correct models of the Juke on the Sunshine coast tomorrow. Tonight I had the opportunity to talk with several Nissan staffers about a variety of topics. One of them was future applications of the new 1.6 liter turbo engine. I was hoping for a lightweight rear drive sport coupe or sedan. The bad news is that this was the original plan for this new powerplant, but Nissan cancelled the project in '08 due to a lack of projected sales volume. Nobody could offer any encouragement that this 240SX replacement (S16?) has ever been revisited.
But there was some good news in the form of the upcoming replacement Sentra (B17) model. It's still in the design stage, but the reports are that its a much better looking car than the slab-sided B16. Being built on the same Global B platform as the Juke means there's the possibility the 1.6 turbo (I've yet to find the internal engine designation) could be used in the next Sentra. How would Sentra fans like a turbocharged Sentra Se-R with direct injected four and 190 blown HP? Better yet, there's a manual tranny for the FWD model ready to use. Much of the R&D on the application has been done and Nissan could offer better mileage than the QR25 to boot!
But don't tell me you like the idea. Let Nissan know what you want to see with the new Sentra. Or, on second thought, post here and I'll carry the water to Nissan myself...
Look for a First Drive article on the new 2011 Juke in the upcoming issue. Any questions you'd like to see addressed?