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New 2011 Juke

The New 2011

Nissan Juke

 

 2011 will most likely go down as a memorable year for Nissan, as the company introduces its most radically styled vehicle yet, the new Juke. Nissan is targeting a share of the market it calls "aggressive attention seekers," and make no mistake, the Juke is the epitome of just that. Juke is affordable, sporty, trend-setting, and practical. Those drawn in by its unconventional looks are rewarded with a dynamic, yet comfortable driving experience.

 

 Groundbreaking in every way


 

The Juke  marks quite a few firsts for Nissan. Not only from a styling perspective, but from an engineering one as well. Nissan is also releasing it's first version of a direct-injected turbocharged power plant in the Juke. The benefits of this technology are many, allowing the Juke to make more power in a more efficient manner, without sacrificing fuel economy. Although final specs have not been released yet, expect the 1.6l engine to produce more than 180 horsepower and at least 170 ft-lbs of torque, with a combined EPA rating of about 30 mpg.

 

The Juke  will be available with a 6 speed manual transmission in its front-wheel drive variant, but will also have an optional all-wheel drive system with a continuously-variable transmission. The all-wheel drive system features another first in this market segment, a torque-vectoring feature, which will allow power to be distributed between all 4 wheels, cutting down on over steer and increasing traction in less than ideal conditions.

 

 She's a Looker...


 

The Juke's looks truly make it stand out in a crowd. Good luck losing it in a parking garage, or having it confused for a Sentra at the valet. The Juke makes a statement whether in photographs or in person. Nissan wanted to simultaneously convey the excitement of the sports cars they are known for, while retaining the practicality of their more economical line; and to that extent, they have succeeded. As Popular Mechanics magazine puts it,

 

"Everything about the Juke's outward appearance suggests a lively personality. From its massive haunches and complex sculptural shapes to its large rally-inspired headlamps, the Juke looks like the rambunctious, leggy lovechild of the 370Z and the new Leaf EV."

 

The Juke brilliantly masks its subcompact platform by providing its occupants plenty of interior room, and gives off a deceptively large exterior portrait. The styling comes mainly from Nissan's European design center, with some help from the Japanese home studio. 

 

Although it doesn't resemble anything typically found on American roads, Nissan has high expectations for the Juke to sell. Backing up these expectations is the fact that there have been more than 11,000 orders for it in its home country of Japan only in its first month.


Read more about the Juke:

http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1005_2011_nissan_juke/index.html