JUKE, the compact crossover that has single-handedly created an entirely new sector of the market, will be the first Nissan to be turned into a premium sports model, it was announced today.
The Nissan Juke Nismo is bringing motorsport-inspired performance to the street.
Previewed as a concept at this week’s Geneva Motor Show, the production version of the Juke Nismo promises more energy, more excitement and more innovation.
The car will be built at Nissan’s plant in Sunderland alongside other members of the Juke family with sales in Europe due to start towards the end of the year.
Detailed specification will be released closer to launch, but the Juke Nismo will combine edgy crossover styling with a choice of two technically-advanced chassis, one with two-wheel drive and the other featuring four-wheel-drive and torque vectoring. Both will have revised suspension settings.
A sporting attitude will be underscored by a tuned turbocharged petrol engine, while tougher looks inside and out will reflect the brand values of Nismo, Nissan’s performance and motorsport division.
Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President at Nissan Motor Co, said: ‘The Juke Nismo Concept gives a strong indication of how the production model will look and showcases Juke’s performance credentials.
‘It combines the current Juke design, with its unique combination of sports coupé lines and SUV styling, with Nismo’s aerodynamic know-how.
‘Add enhanced performance and even sharper handling and Juke Nismo is a car that just begs to be driven.’
Nissan’s Juke Nismo Concept is finished in signature Nismo colours of pearl white with red highlights.
The vehicle is a taster for a raft of highly-focused Nismo versions of Nissan products promised for the future. Nissan will conduct an ambitious expansion programme where the Nismo name will become synonymous with performance and premium sports variants of production Nissan models.
Excitement and innovation
Shoichi Miyatani, President of Nismo, said: ‘Nismo adds even more excitement and innovation to Nissan products. Following on from Nissan Juke Nismo, we plan to inject that style and excitement into other models in the Nissan range.
‘As well as performance and excitement, Nismo’s product range will encapsulate core values of trust, safety and distinctiveness. As the concept shows, Nismo brings new levels of individuality to mainstream Nissan cars like Juke.’
Another element of the expansion programme will see Nismo relocate to an all-new purpose-designed global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan at the start of 2013.