Nissan Juke out of box
February 11th, 2010 by Richard Aucock
NISSAN has revealed the new car it hopes will shake up the small car sector – the British-built Juke.
The firm intends to continue big Qashqai success by taking the concept down a size.
Following the crossover theme, it is part-SUV, part conventional hatchback and part sporty roadster. This mash-up will be coming to car dealer showrooms from October.
Styled in Nissan’s Paddington design house, it is based on the Renault-Nissan B platform that also underpins the Nissan Note and Renault Clio.
This means fairly conventional but well engineered suspension, and a punchy range of engines including the famed 1.5 dCi diesel. But there’s a surprise at the top of the range – a genuine four-wheel-drive model.
The firm has fitted Qashqai multi-link rear suspension to give an ALL-MODE 4×4-i range-topper, that uses similar torque vectoring to the latest Porsche 911 Turbo to ensure good handling. This all-drive version has an engine that’s a match for it, too – a 190bhp 1.6-litre turbo!
Clearly, it’s very stylish on the outside. Nissan hasn’t revealed full images of the interior, but said it’s going to be ‘unexpected’. A particularly high quality finish, with lots of chrome, is promised, while practicality comes from it being a full 5-seater.
Nissan has still to confirm prices, but did reveal it will follow the usual range of Visia, Acenta and Tekna trim lines. This will ensure a degree of familiarity for car buyers.
Who will they be? They’ll be younger than the Nissan average, reckons the firm, and a third will be women. It will attract both those bored with regular superminis, plus C-sector buyers trading down for something funkier.
The vast proportion will be conquest buyers, too.
Car Dealer Magazine has constructed a bulging image gallery for you to see the radical new Juke up close. We’re very keen to hear your thoughts!
Tags: geneva 2010, geneva motor show, juke, Nissan, sunderland
May 4th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
I will be buying the top of the range All Mode 4×4 as soon as it is available.
At last a home grown Nissan Product that is not made for families.
Unique in lots of ways and very good for that.
It will be my first Nissan product.
Here’s looking forward to next winter and driving it in real winter conditions in Argyllshire Scotland.
June 7th, 2010 at 11:02 am
I am also looking at the top of the range 4×4 model – though getting information out of Nissan is like pulling teeth.
I have two comments – only an American could believe that Juke as a name was punchy and modern… I understand the problems with Quanza in Portugal – but it could have been called something else there, rather than stick us all with this title
If 30% of buyers are anticipate to be women I assume 70% are thought to be male? Maybe they should change their market researchers – everyone I know who has seen the pictures think it is far more appealing to women?
June 30th, 2010 at 5:48 am
can you please tell me the dimensions of the new juke