Nissan developing Juke-based FR-S/BRZ competitor
to plug the gap below the 370Z in its sports car lineup, Nissan is reportedly developing a compact, front-wheel-drive sports car to do battle with the Scion FR-S/ Subaru BRZ.
Known internally as the Mini-Z, the small coupe will use the Juke crossover’s platform, a source close to the situation
told Motor Trend. Power will come from the Juke’s 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, while all-wheel-drive (based on the Juke’s system) with torque-vectoring could be an option to help the car better match up against the rear-drive FR-S/BRZ twins.
For better or for worse, the Mini-Z will reportedly thumb its nose at traditional stylistic conventions in the same manner as the Juke. Expect a radical look outside of the sports car norm (although perhaps not as wild as the Urge concept, pictured above).
Notably, the project is a joint Japan-China effort, with Japan doing the heavy lifting in terms of development and China handling design and data assembly. China will be the car’s main market, and it will also be offered in Japan and Europe. A decision on U.S. availability has not yet been made.
Development on the Mini-Z is well under way, with a launch possible as soon as late 2013. Look for a base price of under $22,000.