New Nissan Juke – Small CUV

The mysterious Nissan Juke has finally been revealed and, my god, is it polarizing. As Nissan’s smallest crossover (it’s just larger than the Ford Fiesta), the Juke will be slotted under the Nissan Rogue. The Japanese automaker says the model is closer to a conventional hatchback than a typical SUV and will act as an alternative choice to the traditional C-segment hatchback.

The Juke is based on Renault Nissan Alliance B-Platform and has a 92.5 inch wheelbase and a 61-inches height. It shares many design cues with Nissan’s latest offerings, including the 370Z and the Cube, but where the hell did that front fascia come from?

For the European market, the 2011 Nissan Juke will come with three different engine choices, including a 1.6L Direct Injection Gasoline turbocharged engine with 187-hp, a 113-hp 1.6-liter and a 110-hp 1.5L dCi commonrail diesel. In addition to the standard front-wheel-drive setup, an all-wheel-drive option will also be available. Transmission choices include a manual, automatic and a CVT (for the all-wheel-drive model).

The Nissan Juke will go on sale later this fall. Details on the North American version will be released when the Juke debuts at the 2010 New York Auto Show.