There are many reasons why our very own Christian handed Nissan the award for "Best Enthusiast Brand", and one of then is that the Japanese manufacturer is racing on more levels than most automakers. From super-fast Formula 1 and Le Mans racing to Australian touring car hooning known as V8 Supercars, Nissan->ke62 has been revving its engines and showcasing technology->ke1701 at the top of the motorsport realm for years now.

Granted, its V8 Supercar->ke177 efforts haven't been particularly successful, but that didn't stop Nissan from rolling out a special-edition->ke2041 hatchback ahead of the 2014 Bathurst 1000, Australia's most iconic motorsport event. The vehicle in question, a slightly customized Pulsar SSS, hits Nissan's Australian dealerships just in time to celebrate 30 years since Nissan's first Bathurst 1000 pole position, won by George Fury in the Bluebird Turbo in 1984. Read on to find more about this limited-edition hatch.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Nissan Pulsar SSS Heritage Edition.

Nissan Pulsar SSS Heritage Edition in detail

While the company's European arm is readying a brand-new Pulsar model, Nissan Australia is busy selling its very own Pulsar hatchback. The vehicle is actually a rebadged Nissan Tiida and has nothing to do with the automaker's new effort on the European market. The special-edition model is also based on the Australian-spec Tiida, but comes in SSS trim and carries the Heritage Edition moniker.

Although it comes with no additional body enhancements, it features Nissan's distinctive red-and-blue racing stripes, as well as "Heritage Edition" lettering on its front doors. The hatch is only available in Polar White and Brilliant Silver, both providing an exciting contrast to the racing stripes. Additional goodies include Heritage Edition headrests, floor mats, and interior badging. The company also offers a Nissan Motorsport team shirt in which customers can cheer for the race-spec Altimas during those spectacular V8 Supercar events.

There are no modifications under the hood of the Heritage Edition model, meaning buyers will benefit from the exact same engine offered in the Pulsar SSS. The 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine generates 188 turbocharged horses and 177 pound-feet of torque and mates to either a six-speed manual or a CVT with manual mode.

Only 40 units of the SSS Heritage Edition hatches will be built, with prices starting from AU$28,990 for the manual transmission and AU$31,631 for the CVT. That's about $25,280 and $27,540, respectively, as of 10/16/2014.