Nissan has announced that its Juke-R prototype will enter limited production on a build-to-order basis. Yes, really.
Nissan Juke-R (2012): why so serious?
The Juke-R is the result of the Nissan Europe Technical Centre in Cranfield teaming-up with UK motorsport engineering firm RML to stuff the powertrain of a Nissan GTR into a Nissan Juke bodyshell to create ‘the world’s fastest crossover’. Nissan and RML (known for its WTCC and BTCC championship-winning cars) have previous form in the small car/big engine game, having administered a bootload of BTCC engine to 2003’s mid-engined Micra R, and following that with a Nismo-tuned 350Z engine for the Micra 350SR.
Nissan Juke-R (2012) turns internet stardom into production reality
The Juke-R grew up under the watchful gaze of social media, and elicited a suitably viral buzz-generating amount of Facebook likes, Twitter tweets and ‘OMG ORSUM!!!1! ROFLOL o_O)’ comments on Youtube. Then in January 2012 Nissan took the Juke-R to visit the shy and retiring automotive scene in Dubai. Juke-R acted as pace car to the Dubai 24hr GT endurance race, and proceeded to dispatch high-end European exotics from Mercedes, Ferrari and Lamborghini in made-for-video street racing demo. That helped seal the half-pint GTR’s unlikely street cred, and led to demand for replicas which Nissan and RML have seen fit to satisfy.
Buying a Juke-R
Nissan is holding three firm offers for production Juke-Rs, and that initial sales commitment has opened the door to expanding production. The production model will differ from the prototype in having the upgraded 2012 model year GTR powertrain. Those three cars will be delivered in late-summer 2012. If you want to express your interest in owning a Juke-R of your own, send an email to Nissan via this address: Juke-R@Nissan.co.uk If you have to ask the price, you clearly don’t get the concept. Go back to wishing for a GTR-based Infiniti supercar LOSER!!!1! lol