The Fruit of Knowledge
Posts tagged Nissan Juke
First Drive: 2013 Nissan Juke Nismo
May 7th
Filed under: Crossover, Hatchback, Nissan, First Drives
Scratching All The Right Itches
Say what you will about the unconventional aesthetics that Nissan employed on the company’s Juke. I love the thing. The universe has no shortage of ambiguously styled CUVs, and while I can’t exactly say I would have turned to the amphibian world for design inspiration had it been me with the charcoal in my hand, I can certainly appreciate the fact that the Juke isn’t just another box-on-box design.
And then there’s that engine. The turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder under the hood is one of the best powerplants in the company’s toy box, offering plenty of low-range torque and comical levels of thrust. Hell, it even makes the optional continuously variable transmission tolerable. Praise be to the deities of forced induction. But something has always been missing from the mix. From the first moment I got my hands on the Juke, I couldn’t help but think how much better the machine would be if Nissan ditched an inch or two of ground clearance and sharpened up its suspension. Think more “hot hatch” and less “Kermit goes to Kroger.”
I wasn’t the only one with that notion. The minds at Nismo were keen to turn their attentions to the Juke, and while the resulting 2013 Juke Nismo isn’t the hardcore machine I’d seen in my dreams, it may very well be the best trim available for the runabout.
Continue reading 2013 Nissan Juke Nismo
2013 Nissan Juke Nismo originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Video: Angry Russian motorcyclist has an axe to grind with Nissan Juke
Apr 23rd
Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Videos, Crossover, Nissan, Motorcycle, Russia
Let’s get this out of the way right off the bat: We don’t know if the video you’re about to watch really took place in the wild or if it were staged. That said, this appears to be one of the most alarming bits of road rage we’ve ever seen captured on video.
Let’s set the scene. A motorcyclist is riding along with a good bit of distance between him and the black Nissan Juke in front of him before accelerating to catch up. The Juke driver moves to the left in order to avoid an obstacle in the road, cutting off the motorcyclist in the process, but everyone is fine. No harm, no foul? Hardly.
The motorcyclist falls way back, apparently biding his time and getting ready. Ready for what, you ask? Keep watching – the altercation concludes with an angle grinder, a frightened Juke driver and the loss of one minor appendage that once belonged to said Juke. Finally, a sticker that says ‘NTV’ is placed on the car’s window, a fellow motorist appears to come to the driver’s aid and the motorcyclist makes a quick getaway. Craziness.
Scroll down below to see it all unfold on video.
Continue reading Angry Russian motorcyclist has an axe to grind with Nissan Juke
Angry Russian motorcyclist has an axe to grind with Nissan Juke originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Kia Provo concept car revealed
Mar 3rd
The Kia Provo concept car that will make its debut at the Geneva motor show previews a new Nissan Juke rival.
Chicago: 2013 Nissan Juke Nismo is the runabout we’ve always wanted
Feb 7th
Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Performance, Hatchback, Nissan, Design/Style
The 2013 Nissan Juke Nismo has officially bowed at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show. Wearing a full body kit that serves up 37-percent more downforce than the standard front and rear fascias, the tuned hatchback also comes equipped with larger 18-inch wheels and a lowered suspension. Up front, LED daytime running lights join the festivities as well as contrasting side-view mirror covers and wider fender flares. Inside, buyers can expect to find a new sports steering wheel clad in Alcantara, as well as a set of Nismo seats stitched with red accents.
Nismo also cranked up the power on the Juke’s turbocharged direct-injection 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. The Juke Nismo delivers 197 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, compared to the 188 hp and 177 lb-ft available in stock configuration. Buyers can have the engine with either a six-speed manual transmission or CVT gearbox, and the Juke Nismo can also be had with either all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive. Check out the full press release below for more information.
Continue reading 2013 Nissan Juke Nismo is the runabout we’ve always wanted
2013 Nissan Juke Nismo is the runabout we’ve always wanted originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Official: Kia teases Geneva concept, is a Nissan Juke rival in the cards?
Jan 23rd
Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Kia, Design/Style
These four photos tell us most about the pomegranate-red concept Kia will be bringing to this year’s 2013 Geneva Motor Show. An accompanying 66-word press release gives away nothing, so we’re left to wonder if this is some kind of Nissan Juke rival that the South Korean company is toying with.
Even with the exaggerated dimensions of concept cars, this unnamed “urban concept car” looks somewhat larger than the average subcompact hatch, and there are some seriously Juke-ish lines around the rear three-quarter. This concept, however, appears to be a two-door model, unlike the Juke with its hidden rear handles, but that doesn’t mean a production model couldn’t add a couple of entry points.
We’ll know for sure in March. You’ll have to make the four high-res photos and those 66 words in the release below last until then.
Continue reading Kia teases Geneva concept, is a Nissan Juke rival in the cards?
Kia teases Geneva concept, is a Nissan Juke rival in the cards? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Rumormill: Mazda CX-3 details come to light
Dec 9th
Mazda may be working on a new CUV, according to Auto Express. Reportedly called the CX-3, the small crossover will be engineered to take on the likes of the Ford EcoSport and Nissan Juke, but with a focus on fuel efficiency and engaging driving characteristics.
The report names no sources, but says the CX-3 will benefit from a new small-displacement diesel engine. The 1.6-liter oil burner will be joined by a 1.3-liter gasoline engine when the vehicle debuts in 2014. Auto Express reports the model may bow as a front-wheel drive offering only, with no all-wheel-drive option.
And what will it look like? Word has it Mazda will continue to leverage the face we’ve seen on the current CX-5 (pictured). That means the company’s shield grille will make the jump, but with more plastic lower body cladding. Inside, Auto Express says the CX-3 will offer buyers fold-flat rear seating for extra cargo capacity.
Mazda CX-3 details come to light originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 Dec 2012 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Official: Nissan Juke R ready for first delivery [w/video]
Oct 17th
Filed under: Performance, Europe, Crossover, Nissan
We haven’t heard much about the Nissan Juke-R since the hyper-performance crossover was confirmed for production, but with the first example on its way to a very wealthy customer, Nissan has given us a look at Juke-R No. 001. This GT-R in a Juke’s skin was originally built as a one-off concept vehicle, and now this white Juke-R is the first of only a “handful” of models that Nissan is planning to build.
As expected, the production version of the souped-up Juke is a bit more powerful than the concept version displayed earlier this year. Using the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 from the 2013 GT-R, the Juke-R will be rated at the same 545 horsepower rather than the 480 hp the Juke-R Concept had with the 2012 GT-R mill under the hood. Nissan says this will give the Juke-R a top speed of 170 miles per hour with the ability to accelerate from 0-60 mph in under three seconds.
This is the first time we’ve seen live images of the Juke-R in white, and the lighter coloring helps show off a few of the changes Nissan made to the exterior design. After announcing that the supercrossover would be built, Nissan looked to its European design team to fine tune the Juke-R’s styling. These changes include slight tweaks being made to the front and rear fascias, redesigned side sills and wheels grabbed from the 2013 GT-R.
Nissan did announce the starting price of 400,000 euros (close to $521,000), but for those of us who can’t afford this kind of money, the Juke-R will be in a new mobile game called Asphalt 7: Heat available on iPhone and Android devices. Scroll down to see videos of the production Juke-R in action both in the real world and in the virtual world.
Continue reading Nissan Juke R ready for first delivery [w/video]
Nissan Juke R ready for first delivery [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Paris: 2013 Nissan Juke Nismo closer to coming to America
Sep 28th
Filed under: Performance, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Crossover, Hatchback, Nissan
First shown as a concept at the Tokyo Motor Show and first unveiled in production trim at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 2013 Nissan Juke Nismo has just had its first in-person meeting with the Autoblog team at the Paris Motor Show. While not quite as extreme as its Juke R brother – not having a GT-R drivetrain kind of takes the edge off – the Juke Nismo nonetheless kicks the standard car up a few notches to become even more of an enthusiast’s plaything than a quasi-crossover.
With the laying on of hands from Nismo, Nissan’s in-house performance tuning and motorsports arm, this Juke benefits from a host of improvements that up its performance game. The changes begin with a complete Nismo aero package that includes new front and rear bumpers, wider wheel arches, side skirts, rear spoiler and front grille. Eighteen-inch alloys wheels get tucked under those new fenders, while the interior benefits from a lavish swathing of grippy Alcantara on the new sport seats and steering wheel.
Nissan says that the Juke’s direct-injected turbo 1.6-liter four-cylinder has been modified for Nismo duty, presumably for more power, though the company is still keeping tight-lipped about new power figures. The 1.6-liter as it stands in the base Juke produces a healthy 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, but even if the engine weren’t upgraded, Nismo has also addressed performance from a handling perspective by fitting the Juke with a stiffer suspension and revised steering, along with tweaking its traction control and torque vectoring systems.
Launching in Europe early next year, the Juke Nismo will then be made available in Japan before finally making its way to North America at a yet-to-be-determined later date. Pricing is still a mystery as well, but it’s safe to say the Nismo will probably be at least a few thousand dollars over the standard model.
2013 Nissan Juke Nismo closer to coming to America originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Report: Audi Q2 to take on Nissan Juke?
May 4th
Audi is rapidly expanding its crossover range, with the Q3 recently joining the Q5 and Q7, not to mention the BMW X6-rivaling Q6 that’s in the pipeline. But now, according to Auto Express, Audi is working on an entry-level Q2 crossover that would take on the likes of the Nissan Juke and Mini Countryman.
Auto Express has come up with a rendering of the Q2 (pictured right, click to see the full deal), which we’ll reportedly see in concept form sometime in the next 12 months, and – surprise, surprise – it looks like a sportier Q3 or, more to the point, a high-riding A1. Because of its small size, powertrains will likely be plucked out of the A1 range, meaning a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four and a 1.6-liter diesel four will be offered.
Audi will also reportedly take a cue from Mini with the Q2 launch, encouraging owners to personalize their small CUVs in a number of ways. According to the report, buyers will be able to opt for contrasting roof and mirror colors, as well as different-colored major interior trim bits, including the seats and steering wheel.
The Q2 will ride on the same MQB architecture that is set to underpin the full range of Volkswagen Group small cars. That said, Auto Express reports that the Q2 will launch before the rest of the small cars are facelifted in 2014.
Audi Q2 to take on Nissan Juke? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 May 2012 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Report: Renault to get own version of Nissan Juke
Apr 2nd
Filed under: Budget, Crossover, Nissan, Renault, Design/Style
We had a feeling this was coming. The otherworldly curvy sheetmetal of the Nissan Juke has always seemed so far off the map as to appear more French than Japanese. After all, Gallic designers have a long history of creating bold and polarizing forms. So it comes as little surprise that AutoExpress is reporting that Nissan will let its corporate siblings at Renault borrow the fun-to-drive Juke crossover for a model of their own.
At least in the UK, the unnamed model will replace the slow-selling Koleos CUV. AutoExpress has worked up some renderings, and notably, they swap out the Juke’s unusual front lighting for something a bit more traditional and more along the lines of the 2011 Geneva Motor Show Captur showcar.
Earlier speculation had the Captur coming to market riding atop Renault’s Clio architecture, but if this new report is accurate, Renault probably won’t have to invest as much to bring the vehicle to market. Check out the full renderings at the link below, and sit tight, because AE doesn’t expect the subcompact ute to arrive until sometime next year.
Renault to get own version of Nissan Juke originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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