The updated Nissan Juke has been generating a wide range of opinions about its updated styling.
One thing about Nissan, the maker doesn’t shy away from edgy designs. And that’s especially true when it comes to the maker’s various crossover models. Case in point: the newly updated Juke that made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show this week.
The original version of the compact crossover was arguably the edgiest of the Nissan CUV designs, opting for a more youthful, funky approach than the more elegant – shall we say “mature” – Murano. It appears Nissan has decided to push the needle quite a bit further with a design already polarizing the media covering the Geneva Show.
The 2015 update features updated split headlamps framing a beefed-up chromed grille that almost appears to be grinning. There are even more pronounced flares to the wheel arches, and the even more angular tail gets distinctive boomerang-style taillamps. The overall look is decidedly more angular than before.
The Juke NISMO RS.
The side mirrors now get LED turn signal indicators and – if ordered, the cameras for Nissan’s Around View Monitor system.
As much as Nissan has tinkered with the exterior, it’s revised interior treatment focuses primarily on the cargo bay, storage capacity jumping by 40%, to 12.5 cubic feet.
(Click Hereto check out all the news from the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.)
Along with the standard-edition Juke, Nissan gave a preview of the most radical version of the crossover’s range, the Juke NISMO RS. Among other things, it will feature a 214-horsepower drivetrain, upgraded brakes, a stiffer body and, on front-drive models, a limited-slip differential.
Another look at the Juke NISMO RS.
For those who don’t want to push the performance envelope, the 1.6-liter inline-4 DIG-T powertrain gets a compression boost that bumps it to 188 horsepower – which is channeled through either a 6-speed manual or the Nissan Xtronic CVT. Front-drive is standard, but all-wheel-drive is available.
(Wonder what the new Smart ForFour will look like? The new Renault Twingo offers some strong hints. Click Here for a closer look.)
In Europe and other global markets, Nissan is now adding a 1.2-liter DIG-T, a turbocharged alternative making 113 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque. Don’t expect to see that option come to the U.S.
In fact, Nissan officials had little to say about their plans for North America and could reveal more at the upcoming New York Auto Show where they are also expected to reveal the next-generation Murano. It remains to be seen how much of a family resemblance they will share.
For now, look for a European launch this coming summer.