Production of the new Nissan Juke Nismo at the company’s state-of-the-art factory in Sunderland, UK, is now well underway. The highly experienced engineering and manufacturing teams have integrated the first of the new Nismo models into the existing production line. Thanks to Nissan’s advanced assembly operation, it’s a seamless process with no special day-to-day provisions or delays. The bold design features of Juke Nismo have required some modifications at the plant, for production of the unique front and rear bumpers plus other elements of the new, more aerodynamic body. The car, which is available in Storm White, also makes use of the Sunderland plant’s state-of-the-art paint facility. Since its launch in 2010, more than 330,000 Jukes have been built at the factory, where Nissan also manufactures the Note, Qashqai and Qashqai+2. Last year the plant set a new production record of 510,000 units, up from the previous best of 480,000 in 2011. The 2010 benchmark of 420,000 was the first time in history that any UK car production facility had made more than 400,000 passenger vehicles in a year. When the plant opened in 1986, employees assembled 12.5 cars per hour. The figure is now an astonishing 118 per hour, 60 on Line 1 and 58 on Line 2. Around 80 per cent of production is exported, mainly to mainland Europe but to a total of 97 international markets. The Juke Nismo is the first of a range that will take Nissan’s wealth of global motorsport success and move it from the race track to the road. The Juke Nismo features a more aerodynamic body kit, driver-focused interior upgrades and a more powerful turbocharged engine. Stiffer suspension and modified steering mean experience, with sportier handling and improved traction. From Motorin News