Nissan is not known as hot hatch maker. They are not even known as a particularly good hatchback maker, come to think of it. But they are experimenting with this segment and on the evidence of this Nissan Pulsar Nismo Concept they might be onto something.

Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, the Pulsar Nismo brings a bit of motorsport flair to the C-segment, according to Nissan, channeling Nismo’s wealth of experience in racing to make a properly hot family hatchback.

Compared to the standard version, Nissan Pulsar Nismo features a dramatically sporty design with large air intakes at the front, diffuser-style rear bumper and the central twin exhaust pipes, carbon fibre rear spoiler, side skirts and flared wheel arches, 19-inch five arm alloy wheels and lowered ride height, not to mention a cool satin gunmetal grey paint job garnished with Nismo’s signature red detailing.

All that stuff give the Pulsar a formidable look, but sadly it is quite anticlimactic. Looking at those looks you’d expect the car to be powered by a fiery turbocharged engine with over 300 something. And it well might be, but we don’t know. Nissan refuses to tell us what sort of engine they have in mind for the Pulsar Nismo, probably because they have no intention of producing this car.

That’s a shame, because everything about Nissan Pulsar Nismo screams driving fun. We are particularly fond of the interior, where you find a race-inspired theme with a red coloured tachometer, deeply sculpted sports seats trimmed in Alcantara, a sporty three-spoke steering wheel and alloy pedals.