No related posts.

The Dubai Autodrome will play host to a very special guest for the 2012 Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai race.

In addition to the scads of GT3-spec BMW Z4s, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMGs, Ferrari 458 Italias and Porsche 911s, the pace car running in front of them will be none other than the Nissan Juke R.

The 480-horsepower GT-R/Juke mash-up hasn’t made its debut in front of the public yet, so unless Nissan has a surprise up its sleeves before the race, which is scheduled for the weekend of January 12-14, this will be Juke R’s coming out party. We won’t be on hand to snag shots of the R in Dubai, but rumor has it that it could make its first Stateside appearance at the Chicago Auto Show.

Nissan Juke R to pace Dubai 24-hour race originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog

No related posts.

No related posts.

The Nissan Juke R might be one of the company’s most impressive engineering efforts in recent memory, but the skunkworks team behind it has apparently ruffled more than a few feathers with Nissan execs in Japan.

The UK team behind the Juke R apparently didn’t seek approval from Nissan’s higher-ups before beginning the build, and the unholy GT-R/Juke hybrid concept was apparently born in secret before the unending teasers – see the latest one after the jump – began making their way online.

According to sources close to the company, the release was a complete surprise to many at the automaker and several Nissan executives at the company’s headquarters were put-off by the idea that a group of rag-tag engineers in the UK would take their ultimate driving machine – the flagship for everything Nissan is capable of – and toss it into an inexpensive compact crossover.

But like you, we think it’s awesome, and we suspect when the execs get some seat time, they’ll begrudgingly agree.

Continue reading Juke R might be awesome, but Nissan HQ ain’t happy [w/video]

Juke R might be awesome, but Nissan HQ ain’t happy [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog

No related posts.

With Nismo set to expand its scope and product range in the coming years, Nissan’s in-house tuning division needs to start with something both customizable and attainable. And it appears the Juke is it.

Nismo has done the standard cadre of mods to the Juke, including the fitment of larger Brembo brakes with slotted rotors up front, stiffer springs and shocks, 19-inch wheels with performance rubber and an assortment of interior baubles to match the racy exterior. The body kit isn’t just a looker – it’s functional – with the revised front and rear bumpers, grille and rear diffuser all aiding aerodynamics.

Nismo isn’t saying what’s been done to the turbocharged 1.6-liter four-pot aside from saying it delivers “more power,” so we’re assuming it’s an ECU reflash partnered with some new breathing hardware.

As for the possibility of production, our sources say Nissan is looking into offering the Nismo Juke as either a stand-alone model or an upgrade path, but the trigger hasn’t been pulled yet. If it does, expect it to be available in the first half of next year. Make the jump for the official release.

UPDATE: We’ve added a few more pics, including images of the interior and the engine. By the looks of engine bay, they’ve added a new intake, front strut tower bar and the prerequisite coolant filler cap.

Continue reading Nissan Juke Nismo Concept isn’t a sure thing, yet

Nissan Juke Nismo Concept isn’t a sure thing, yet originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog

No related posts.