Motorsport lovers are looking forward to the start of the 2017 season to see if Nissan’s GT500 from the racing and performance division (known as NISMO) can reclaim the GT500 championship title. The top-secret GT-R NISMO GT500 was finally revealed last November after extensive testing at several tracks throughout Japan and Malaysia including the famed Fuji Speedway.

In a press release, Takao Katagiri, president and CEO of NISMO said, “We hope to thrill fans with a fast, more appealing GT-R that will excite fans as it lines up on the grid for the opening round competing against the new Lexus and Honda machines.”

For those that want to do more than simply watch the latest GT-R compete, the 2017 Nissan Sentra NISMO is the manufacturer’s first consumer model to sport the NISMO badge. It brings a little of the GT500 into the everyday ride at a price most everyone can afford. We’re talking about a factory tuned performance vehicle that starts at $25,698.

“Sentra is Nissan’s second most popular vehicle behind Rogue,” said Bert Brooks, senior manager, Product Planning, Nissan Canada Inc. “The new Sentra NISMO will undoubtedly set the nameplate’s image on fire as the first introduction of the NISMO brand on a core, affordable Nissan model in Canada.”

The NISMO Sentra has a more aggressive, track-inspired stance. A lower ride, rear spoiler, larger 18-inch wheels and lower body panels contribute to the effect.

Inside, unique sports seats with extra support in the form of side bolstering keep you tucked in during the Highway 1 curves. Plenty of NISMO logos can be seen throughout, including the gear shift, seats, dash and embroidered floor mats. The interior colour scheme comes in only one combination of Charcoal grey with red accents. Other track interior touches include a push button starter with red start ring and NISMO meter cluster with a coordinating red tachometer.

NISMO wanted to offer more than just a pretty face in its first venture into consumer cars. The Sentra is powered by a 1.6-litre Direct Injection Gasoline turbocharged engine rated at 188 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission with gear ratios or a performance-tuned Xtronic transmission designed to match the engine’s performance are both available. The Xtronic transmission has a D-mode step shift system to enhance the feeling of acceleration while letting the engine rpm build with speed.

The NISMO-tuned suspension uses a lightweight monotube shock design that responds to react to ever-changing road conditions quickly. The Electric Power Steering (EPS) system on the 2017 NISMO Sentra keeps steering tight and responsive regardless of speed.

The 2017 Nissan Sentra NISMO “is not just a ‘lipstick’ application that adds a little performance and a lot of flash,” confirmed Brooks. “The beauty of the new Sentra NISMO is that every single aspect from front fascia to rear spoiler and everything in between works together to provide an enhanced driving experience – with equal emphasis on power and handling.”

Come take one out for a test drive at one of our locations. You’ll appreciate the good looks and the careful balance between high-end performance and price. But forget practicality, this sedan is a fun little drive, regardless of how affordable it may be.