NISSAN JUKE: VARIATIONS ON A THEME

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2012/08/29

NISSAN JUKE: VARIATIONS ON A THEME

Three new variants underline the ‘dare-to-be-different' persona of the Nissan Juke and will help to cement Nissan's position as crossover pioneers

Three special Nissan Jukes under Moscow Show spotlight

Sales soar as Nissan Juke captures the imagination of Russian car buyers - 35,000 units already sold since May 2011 launch in Russia

MOSCOW (29 August, 2012)-Whether you like your power to be measured in watts or bhp (or just plain db) the Nissan Juke will deliver.

Alongside standard versions of the distinctive compact crossover the Nissan stand at the 2012 Moscow International Auto salon will be gathering together three of the most exciting versions of the Juke yet created.

And the show also marks the world debut of a limited edition Juke created to celebrate Nissan's collaboration with London-based entertainment leader and record label Ministry of Sound. As well as distinctive looks, owners of Juke with Ministry of Sound limited edition will be given a special Music Pack with an engraved Apple iPod touch* complete with Scratch Shield case, Ministry of Sound headphones and album downloads.

Despite having been on sale in Russia for only 16 months, Nissan Juke has proven to an instant hit with 35,000 sales at the end of July. The arrival of Juke Nismo and Juke with Ministry of Sound is certain to boost sales still further.

Nissan Juke with Ministry of Sound

Nissan is extending its relationship with Ministry of Sound in the form of an exciting new limited edition Juke. The bold Ministry of Sound badged newcomer will be available across Europe from September, with just 3,000 set for production.

Juke with Ministry of Sound can be specified with any powertrain and transmission combination in the current Juke range, and is offered with a number of special design and technology features to make it a unique and innovative addition to the line-up.

Mirroring Ministry of Sound's famous black and white logo, this limited edition Juke will be available to order in Metallic Black or Solid White. All models come equipped as standard with 17-inch white alloy wheels, white door handles and white mirror caps. To further enhance the bold look, the B-pillar is finished in high-gloss black, while a unique Ministry of Sound badge completes the external design package.

Inside, the Juke with Ministry of Sound features a striking white centre console, white door trims and white stitching on the leather seats, steering wheel and gearknob. The cabin also features an iPod cradle that gives occupants the perfect set-up for choosing their music on the move.

All Juke with Ministry of Sound buyers will also receive an exclusive Music Pack. The pack includes a white 8gb Apple iPod touch* pre-loaded with Nissan video and photo content and engraved on the rear with Nissan Juke and Ministry of Sound logos. An innovative self-healing iPod case that features Nissan's Scratch Shield paint technology is also included.

The Music Pack also contains a pair of high quality Ministry of Sound headphones, branded with exclusive Juke logos. Completing the pack is an activation code that allows customers to download five full-length albums from Ministry of Sound's extensive catalogue.

* iPod touch is a trademark of Apple, Inc., registered in US and other countries. Apple is not a participant in or sponsor of this promotion

Nissan Juke-R

The most powerful in terms of horsepower is the remarkable Nissan Juke-R. Developed for Nissan by leading race team RML with input from the Nissan Technical Centre in Europe (NTCE), Juke-R looks like an innocent Nissan Juke... but underneath that exterior lurks the heart of a beast.

To create the hand-built 255 km/h Juke-R, RML took the body off a Nissan GT-R supercar, shortened its chassis and than grafted a Juke body on top. Under the bonnet is a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 engine straight out of a GT-R. Under the boot floor is the GT-R six-speed transaxle with front and rear ends joined together by a modified GT-R 4WD drive system and shortened propshaft. Purposeful 20-inch RAYS alloy wheels fill each arch.

Aside from the wheels, gently extended wheel arches and matt black body finish, the only visual clue that this is something different can be determined from the deep front splitter and the twin rear spoiler. That and its speed, of course.

Inside it's a mixture of stripped race car function and advanced technology features from the GT-R. A purpose built roll cage offers protection - and helps strengthen the shell - for the driver and front passenger (there are no rear seats) who are held in their racing seats by full five-point racing harnesses. The Juke's dashboard has been modified to hold the dials, gauges and customizable 7-inch screen display from the GT-R while the Juke's iconic centre console, inspired by a motorcycle fuel tank, remains.

Despite the race-bred look, Juke-R retains plenty of creature comforts including air conditioning and the sound system... there's even an aux-in slot for an iPod.

The Juke-R was originally conceived as a concept of which only two examples would be built, (one with left-hand drive and the other with right-hand drive). But when the car undertook pace car duties at the Dubai 24 Hours endurance race, such was the interest that Nissan received three serious offers from people who wanted to buy the cars.

Nissan then took the decision to announce a very limited run of replicas on a build-to-order basis. The ‘production' version will be even more powerful than the original, which was based on a MY10 GT-R. These special build cars will use MY12 running gear, which puts power up to 545bhp, and the initial batch will be delivered to customers later this year.

Gareth Dunsmore, Marketing Communications Manager for the Juke, said: "Juke-R was originally intended as a one-off concept to marry two of Nissan's most innovative models. But the reaction we had to the car in Dubai was amazing - people were making offers for the originals on the street!"

Nissan Juke Nismo

Unlike Juke-R, which will remain a very limited edition, Nissan Juke Nismo is a fully-fledged production car.

Given its world debut at Le Mans, where it joined the radical Nissan DeltaWing and more than 20 other Nissan-powered LMP2 race cars, Nissan Juke Nismo marries the unique Nissan Juke design - a startling blend of sports coupé lines and SUV styling - with a distinctive individuality developed by Nismo, Nissan's motorsport and personalisation division.

Nismo specialists have engineered a new aerodynamics kit, giving the Juke an even more efficient, dynamic and powerful design. The new model features lower front and rear bumpers, wider wings and sill side skirts, and a modified grille and tailgate spoiler to control airflow. These aerodynamic enhancements reduce front and rear lift without increasing drag, enhancing the Juke Nismo's driving performance. Stylish new 18-inch alloy wheels with wider tyres offer improved grip, and further boost Juke Nismo's on-road presence.

The Juke Nismo is enhanced with a tuned version of its 1.6-litre direct injection turbocharged (DIG-T) petrol engine, inspired by the one installed in Nissan's DeltaWing. As well as featuring stiffened suspension settings and steering modifications for sportier, more direct handling and improved traction control, the new model will also be available with torque vectoring, a technology offering better grip and cornering capacity.

The Nismo treatment continues inside the cabin, where the steering wheel, pedals, gauges, gear knob and door trims have been redesigned to boost the sporty feeling when driving. To further underline the performance personality of the car, special suede-trimmed Nismo sports seats with red stitching have been added for increased support while cornering.

Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President Global Product Planning, said: "The introduction of Juke Nismo further cements our dedication to provide innovation and excitement for everyone. The Juke, with its radical design and pioneering attitude, is the natural choice to be one of the first Nissan models to receive the mythical performance and distinctive design treatment from our Nismo specialists."

Nissan Juke Nismo will be built in Nissan's Sunderland plant in the UK and sales are due to start in Russia in mid-2013.

Issued by Nissan