We are surprised at the amount of attention Nissan has been giving the bug-eyed Juke. The Juke-R was an eye-opener — such world-class performance in such a tiny package? Few saw it coming. The Nissan Juke Nismo, though not as extreme as the Juke-R, is the latest demonstration of the compact crossover’s customizability.
The juiced-up crossover looks sharp, at least when compared to the standard Juke. An aerodynamic body kit adds revised front and rear bumpers, side skirts, a modified grille, wide wings and a tailgate, topped off with new 18-inch alloy wheels. The interior features a redesigned steering wheel, pedals, gauges, gear knob and door trim panels. Sportier control surfaces and sport bucket seats covered in suede with red stitching help create a sportier atmosphere.
On the performance front, a stiffer suspension, sportier steering and performance-tuned traction control with torque vectoring help improve handling.
The production version of the Juke Nismo, as pictured here, represents the first in a series of new Nismo models inspired by Nissan’s Japanese motorsport heritage and performance expertise. It will participate in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans race and will go on sale in Europe start in January 2013.
