Nissan Juke News

...is going to be something very, very special. Originally conceived as a piece of racetrack silliness, the Juke-R is now approved for production and leaked sketches show the super crossover will be just as insane as hoped - or feared. Everything from the track-focussed Juke-R prototype built last year has been carried through for the road, right down to the wings and wild 20-inch wheels added to the compact crossover when it was injected with the heart and soul of the GT-R. Developed by Nissan, but built by motorsports outfit RML in Britain with input from Nissan's European Technology Centre, the Juke-R gets the GT-R's 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and a modified version of its 4WD system. The cabin of the production car is likely to follow the concept, which means the Juke's motorcycle tank-inspired centre console sitting among the arsenal of gauges, dials and 7-in customisable LCD information display from the GT-R. The bad news for Australia is that every Juke-R has been pre-sold to an owner order - despite a price tipping $580,000 - but the good news is that the go-faster project has helped to re-ignite the chance of the trendy Juke coming to Australia. The rounded compact crossover has been a huge hit in Europe and that has convinced the management at Nissan Australia, under go-getter new boss Bill Peffer, to take another look at the Juke. "We're having another look at Juke. But there is no point in bringing the Juke-R if it's not relevant to what we're doing," the spokesman for Nissan Australia, Jeff Fisher, tells Carsguide. "In any case, they are all being made to order. So unless you already have an order you won't be getting one. And we haven't had any orders here, that I'm aware of." But Fisher says the regular Juke box is back on the radar after an earlier rejection based on the cost of the program and an uncertain sales reception in Australia. "Rejected is not really the right word. it was considered to be outside our product line, but things have changed," admits Fisher. "Now, as a niche car and brand leader, it now has its potential. One of the reasons is that it's been so successful everywhere it's sold." Nissan believes the Micra-based Juke, which would sell against a wide basket of trendy rivals including the Kia Soul and Toyota Rukus, might be right as people look for something different in a baby car. "It has a very wide appeal. People buy these things for distinctiveness, more than any motivation towards its use. That's everyone from young singles to mums and even retirees," Fisher says. "So, fingers crossed. But it's still a work in progress."  

The images could herald the look of what will be among the world’s most expensive 4WDs. If they’re the real deal, the drawings leaked on the internet show the production version has kept the Juke-R concept’s mini-muscle looks, pumped-out wheel arches – and unique split rear spoiler wings.  

Star driver Lucas Ordonez is more used to the sunshine of Spain, but see how he gets to grips -- and loses grip -- in the Losna Isbane Ice Track in Lillehammer.Being billed as a 'baby Godzilla GT-R', the Juke-R is the first ever super crossover.It has grown from the first Micra-based concept developed by Nissan and built by motorsports outfit RML with input from Nissan Technology Centre for Europe .Under the bonnet is a406kW  3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 engine adopted directly from Nissan's flagship supercar, however the limited-edition production version gets the new GT-R running gear rather than the concept's MY10 version.

Fans of Nissan’s legendary Nismo performance and motorsport division will soon be able to buy Nismo enhanced versions of Nissan’s mainstream models. At the opening day of the Tokyo motor show yesterday (Wednesday) Nissan announced that it was bringing its tuning division in-house, in much the same way as Mercedes-Benz did with its AMG performance division several years ago. Nismo - the name is derived from Nissan Motorsports International - has a towering reputation worldwide for its motorsport endeavours, and its enhanced road cars have long been favoured by performance car enthusiasts. But until now the company's road car activities have been restricted to halo performance cars like the Z series in a small number of markets. The announcement at Tokyo means Nismo will be free to apply its performance expertise across the Nissan road car range in a more integrated fashion.  The decision is expected to drive major sales growth of Nismo-branded performance parts and accessories as well as provide Nissan with premium sports variants of its mainstream models.    The Nissan Juke Concept unveiled at the show was chosen as an example of how a more integrated Nismo might work with Nissan. The Juke is a funky cross-over that’s based on the Nissan Micra platform. The Juke Concept appeared decked out in Nismo's signature colour scheme of pearl white with subtle red highlights, sports-tuned suspension, more power from the 1.6-litre direct injection turbo engine and a chunky body kit. "Nismo adds even more excitement and innovation to Nissan products. We now plan to inject that style and excitement into other models in the Nissan range," says Shoichi Miyatani, President of Nismo. Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn added: "Nismo has carved out an enviable reputation in motor racing. "In fact, in 2011, Nismo cars and engines won in every category they competed in… the first time we have achieved this milestone. “The time is now right to let ordinary drivers experience what our racing drivers enjoy every time they head out onto the track. We aim to bring Nismo's passion and focus on driving excitement to mainstream models, and the Juke Nismo Concept shows what we can do," said Mr Ghosn. The announcement also included the news that Nismo would relocate to an all-new purpose-built global HQ in Yokohama in early 2013. The move will create a global centre of excellence for Nissan’s race and performance car development, as well as offering servicing, parts, a showroom and a museum. Nissan Australia CEO Dan Thompson confirmed that the company would look at adding Nismo products and models to its range but said there was nothing planned in the immediate future. “We’ll study it now that there’s a bit more emphasis around it globally,” says Thompson. “They are bringing it down to the mass market which makes it more interesting for us.”

The quirky Gen-Y Juke was initially only planned as a left-hand drive car for sales in Europe and North America but production in Japan has also made it a prime target for Nissan Australia. There is now a good chance the five-door crossover with the unusual looks will be part of a drive to put more personality into local showrooms, alongside the sporty 370Z and the funky new Micra. “Two years ago we didn’t have space in our portfolio but now we do,” says the managing director of Nissan Australia, Dan Thompson. “We don’t think of it as a large volume role for us, more from a brand perspective to deliver a stylish sporty crossover. The Juke would sit below the Dualis and X-Trail but is designed as an entirely different vehicle focussed more at on-road performance than off-road capability. We already have the X-Trail for that and the Dualis all-wheel drive as well,” Thompson says. The Juke is designed for a younger buyer, from its slightly weird frontal treatment to a motor-cycle inspired interior with plenty of colour-coded highlights around the snug cabin. It is powered by a turbocharged 140kW/240Nm 1.6-litre direct-injection petrol four that delivers the performance of a 2.0-litre with economy of a 1.4-litre. The engine is mated to Nissan’s All-Mode 4x4 system which has been updated to include torque vectoring, which can split torque from front and rear but also can move the torque from side-to-side, balancing driver to reduce understeer. Nissan's vice-president of design and development in Europe, Jerry Hardcastle, says the Juke is being aimed at the same buyer who goes for a Mini. “We hope to repeat the Qashqai (Dualis) experience,” he says. It has been a runaway success for Nissan with more than 200,000 sold globally last year, although it took a re-think on pricing and the introduction of a front-wheel drive model to get it moving in Australia. Thompson admits the Nissan brand has not been as “sexy” as he would like in Australia and the Juke has a chance to help change that. “We also have the 370Z, Murano and Dualis, and they are all heading in the right direction to deliver an emotional connection with the brand,” he says. Thompson says a car like the Juke will help the brand connect with younger buyers and, with the all-new Micra and facelifted Dualis - now with seven seats available - arriving this year, perceptions are changing. “We are very much a commercial and SUV brand at the moment. But the plan is to change that by 2012 to get 10 per cent of market share with cars like the Micra.” But the arrival of the Juke has effectively killed any chance of the square-rigged Nissan Cube coming to Australia. The Cube, a huge seller in Japan and has just reached Europe after the introduction of a second-generation model, was being considered for local sales because of its youth appeal. But Dan Thompson believes the Juke is a better fit for Australian buyers, even the company has looked at the Cube "many times" while trying to build a workable business case. He admits the Cube has taken a hit because the Juke can do the same job better. “It’s really more in keeping with where we’re going," Thompson says.

Sneaked from its covers this week in Europe and destined for its official launch at next month's Geneva motor show, the son-of-Dualis is claimed to be part SUV, part sports car.  It is capable, says an optimistic Nissan, of  breathing "new life into the traditionally conservative" small car segment and is able to give buyers "a funky alternative to the conventional urban hatchback". Which is exactly what the slow-selling Dualis was charged with.Developed from the Qazana concept car, of course, the UK-made Juke is the first Nissan to get a new turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine driving all wheels.  Though designed for Europe, Nissan Australia spokesman Jeff Fisher hasn't quite poured cold water on its appearance here, saying that though there are no immediate plans, "we're keeping watch".Nissan has mixed up the styling, creating an SUV look on the outside and a sports-car theme from the driver's seat and a family-centric versatile cabin and boot area.  Based on the Renault Nissan Alliance B platform, Juke has a 2530mm wheelbase. On front-wheel drive versions, suspension is by MacPherson struts at the front with a torsion beam at the rear while AWD models have a multi-link rear suspension shared with the Dualis.Nissan's All-Mode 4x4-i is a new development of the Dualis' electronic AWD system and now features torque vectoring technology to enhance agility and reduce understeer when cornering.  In Europe, three different engines will be available when sales start later this year.The sole diesel is an 81kW/240Nm 1.5-litre dCi common-rail turbo-diesel with two 1.6-litre petrols - a turbocharged, direct injection version with 140kW/240Nm that Nissan says has the same performance as its 2.5-litre engine and a naturally-aspirated 86kW version.The 2WD model turbo petrol as a six-speed manual transmission while a CVT transmission with a six-speed manual mode will be available on the engine's AWD model. The unboosted 1.6-litre petrol is available either with a five-speed manual or the CVT and the diesel gets only a six-speed manual.