Autoblog

Nissan highlights unique challenges of Juke-R's drivetrain

Noah Joseph — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Crossover, Nissan

Most all-wheel-drive vehicles - say, a mass-market crossover like the Nissan Juke, for example - are fairly straightforward in their setup. With the engine and transmission up front, one driveshaft goes to the front wheels and another to the back. But that's not always the case with high-performance machines.

On the Nissan GT-R, for example, the engine is in the front and the gearbox is in the back. So a driveshaft goes aft from the engine to the transmission and the rear wheels, and another goes back to the front wheels where the power came from.

That's all well and good when you're designing a car from scratch to accommodate such a layout. But when it came to replacing the mechanical bits from the Juke with those of the GT-R, Nissan's team of crack engineers found there another challenge. (Not to mention the fact that the Juke's wheelbase is nearly a foot shorter than the GT-R's.) Follow the jump for the fifth (brief) episode in the Juke-R build series to see how they've managed.

Continue reading Nissan highlights unique challenges of Juke-R's drivetrain

Nissan highlights unique challenges of Juke-R's drivetrain originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why some Nissan Juke owners are getting a $400 check in the mail

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Hatchback, Nissan, Earnings/Financials

2011 Nissan Juke - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Nissan Juke is offered in two different drivetrain flavors: front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. When marketing the Juke early on, Nissan listed the gas tank capacity at 13.2-gallons. That's true... for the front-wheel-drive model, however, the all-wheel-drive Juke has a smaller 11.6-gallon tank. Nissan caught the error and corrected it, but not before approximately 4,000 Juke owners purchased the all-wheel-drive Juke and assumed they had the larger tank.

Not content to simply issue an all-encompassing apology, Nissan is sending out letters to each one of those 4,000 Juke owners (out of the 22,000 folks who have so far purchased a Juke). But there is more than just a letter inside the envelope. Nissan is also including a check for $400. Head over to ConsumerSearch.com to read the letter that Nissan sent, then feel free sound off in the 'Comments' regarding the 400 bones.

Do you think this is a cool move by Nissan or would you still be upset as a Juke owner?

Why some Nissan Juke owners are getting a $400 check in the mail originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 May 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #225: Best interiors, Subaru XV, Jaguar SUV, a million Prius sales

Dan Roth — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Ford, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Subaru, Volvo, Shanghai Motor Show

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Autoblog Podcast #225 features Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman, Chris Paukert and Dan Roth. We start with Ward's Auto's ten best interiors for 2011, speculate about the Subaru XV concept and a Jaguar SUV before contemplating what one million U.S. Prius sales means. Your feedback in our Q&A module winds us up, and we've embedded that in the post below, as well. Thanks for listening, we'll see you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #225: Best interiors, Subaru XV, Jaguar SUV, a million Prius sales

In the Autoblog Garage:

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman, Chris Paukert

Runtime: 01:20:38

Get the podcast:
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Autoblog Podcast #225: Best interiors, Subaru XV, Jaguar SUV, a million Prius sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Videos: Nissan pits Juke against... Sports Illustrated swimsuit model?!

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Crossover, Nissan, Humor

Nissan Juke versus Amber the swimsuit model - Click above to watch video after the jump

Nissan is teaming up with Sports Illustrated to highlight a few specific models - one made of sheetmetal and eight lovely ladies crafted from genetically-gifted moms and dads. The funky 2011 Juke is going head-to-head against models vying for a spot in this year's infamous SI Swimsuit issue.

This new series of advertisments showcases the attributes of both the Juke and a bikini-clad model named Amber. Acceleration, agility, aerodynamics and curb appeal are tested with less than shocking results.

The four spots are available for you to view after the jump, and be sure to check out SI.com/ModelSearch when it goes live later this evening to vote for your favorite swimsuit hopeful.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Videos: Nissan pits Juke against... Sports Illustrated swimsuit model?!

Videos: Nissan pits Juke against... Sports Illustrated swimsuit model?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Nissan Juke

Zach Bowman — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Performance, Crossover, Hatchback, Nissan, New Car Reviews

Funky Hatch Is The Perfect Nissan Middle Child

2011 Nissan Juke - Click above for high-res image gallery

Nissan seems to be on a war path to fill every last ounce of white space in the automotive spectrum. The company has unleashed a barrage of vehicles that range from playful to downright confusing. At first blush, the 2011 Nissan Juke would seem to fit into the latter category. With styling that's two shakes away from robo-reptilian, the small crossover packs plenty of power, a tall ride height and a small footprint into one sub-$20,000 package. If you can avoid pigeonholing the Juke, you'll find that the engineers at Nissan secretly managed to bring their own interpretation of the hot hatch to market without raising the ire of the company's accountants.

We wouldn't blame you for thinking we're one stud short of a lug pattern on this one, but point your peepers to a few specs and you'll see what we mean. The Juke weighs in at less than 3,000 pounds in front-wheel-drive guise and packs a turbocharged, direct-injection 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that's good for 188 horsepower. For reference, the company's own Sentra SE-R hits the scales with an extra 88 pounds on its waist and 11 fewer ponies at its command. Opt for the manual gearbox in the Juke, and things get even lighter. Intrigued? We were too.

Continue reading...

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Juke: Review

Continue reading Review: 2011 Nissan Juke

Review: 2011 Nissan Juke originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #211: Cadillac cancels SRX Turbo, TribecaLander, Fiat doubling down on Chrysler, new 911

Dan Roth — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Etc., Cadillac, Chrysler, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Toyota, Fiat

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Episode #211 of the Autoblog Podcast is here with Chris Shunk, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Chris Paukert. We start with the Autoblog Garage and then cover the death of the Cadillac SRX Turbo, rumors of the next generation Subaru Tribeca and Toyota Highlander sharing a platform, Fiat possibly increasing its stake in Chrysler and a quick mention of the changes coming for the Porsche 911 before we respond to your questions and emails. It's a tidy one hour and eighteen minutes this week, thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #211: Cadillac cancels SRX Turbo, TribecaLander, Fiat doubling down on Chrysler, new 911

In the Autoblog Garage:

2011 Toyota 4Runner
2011 Cadillac SRX Turbo
2011 Subaru Forester X
2011 Nissan Juke S FWD

News Topics:

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman, Chris Paukert
Runtime: 01:18:26

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #211: Cadillac cancels SRX Turbo, TribecaLander, Fiat doubling down on Chrysler, new 911 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Last Texan: Nissan Juke named CUV of the Lone Star State

Zach Bowman — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:32:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Hatchback, Nissan

2011 Nissan Juke - Click above for high-res image gallery

We told you yesterday about a whole slew of awards doled out by the Texas Auto Writers Association, but we missed one. The 2011 Nissan Juke has earned the nod as as this year's CUV of Texas. The gaggle of Lone Star writers that hopped behind the seat cited the vehicle's interesting styling and engaging driving experience as the top-ranking reasons for the high-riding hatch's win. Of course, we're pretty big fans of the 32 miles per gallon (highway) that the 188-horsepower 1.6-liter turbo-four turns out, and the super-trick HVAC controls are worth a win in our book, too. Still, we can't help but be a bit surprised that historically conservative Texas would recognize such an otherworldly looking machine. We're guessing that a healthy contingent of the jury comes from "Keep it Weird" Austin, and that's just fine by us.

Nissan says that the TAWA will present the automaker a trophy at its award ceremony on November 12 at Space Center Houston. Seems only fitting for a CUV that looks like it could have spent its formative years roaming the surface of Mars. Hit the jump for the press release.

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Juke: First Drive

Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL

[Source: Nissan]

One Last Texan: Nissan Juke named CUV of the Lone Star State originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Juke film answers the question - What were Nissan designers thinking?

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Crossover, Nissan, Design/Style

Design inspiration for the Nissan Juke - Click above to watch video after the jump

The 2011 Nissan Juke has what some might call 'controversial' styling. It's downright polarizing. So, where did Nissan pull its inspiration from in order to craft these lines? Alfonso Albaisa is the Vice President of Nissan Design Europe and he's here to explain exactly why the Juke looks like it does.

Albaisa states that the essence of the Juke "captures the pure life of a 30-something year-old guy." The vehicle is aimed at a younger demographic of new car buyer and Nissan's goal was to turn lifestyle elements into design features. The interior is supposed to be reminiscent of a person wearing a wetsuit while the front end is intended to invoke visions of a rally car.

Automotive designers are always entertaining to listen to, and Alfonso Albaisa is no exception. His descriptive language wended its way into our brains giving us a greater appreciation for Nissan's little sporty crossover. Don't believe us? Listen to the man in the clip after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Juke: First Drive

Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL

[Source: Nissan via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Juke film answers the question - What were Nissan designers thinking?

Video: Juke film answers the question - What were Nissan designers thinking? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Nissan Juke - The Ultimate Donut Machine?

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Crossover, Nissan

Nissan Juke on a donut run - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Is the 2011 Nissan Juke a smart tool for doing donuts? It's a fun whip, but as a front- or front-biased all-wheel driver, we're leaning very close to 'No.' Is the Juke a great tool for getting donuts? After watching Nissan's new ad for its little crossover, we might just have to say 'Yes.'

The first Juke ad we saw went in a rather weird direction, however this new spot plays up the CUV's sportiness. The Juke squeezes 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque from its 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Pair that with an available six-speed manual transmission and a curb weight that sits on the good side of 3,000 pounds (for the front-wheel drive model), and you have a tiny machine capable of a surprising amount of thrills behind the wheel.

Grab the e-brake and drift on over to the jump to see the donut-run action, along with a second bonus commercial in which the Juke takes on 'The Dread.' Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Juke: First Drive

Photos by Chris Paukert/Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Nissan via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Nissan Juke - The Ultimate Donut Machine?

Video: Nissan Juke - The Ultimate Donut Machine? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Nissan Juke

Chris Paukert — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Crossover, Nissan, First Drives

Unlikely Baby Crossover Confounds and Delights

2011 Nissan Juke - Click above for high-res image gallery

Remember the Nissan NX of the mid-'90s? The tiny, econobox-based sportster was as cute as a bug and spent its brief lifespan mixing it up with other long-gone, sporty front-wheel drive affordables like the Mazda MX-3, Honda Civic CRX, Toyota Paseo and even the Hyundai Scoupe. While there were a lot of inexpensive, racy looking coupes back then, most automakers just don't see any money in that segment anymore. Instead, when they look to spin something off of their entry-level B-class chassis, most veer toward the white-hot crossover segment.

Consider the latest example, Nissan's 2011 Juke. Come to think of it, this in-your-face city slicker has some startling similarities to the NX. For one, at 162.8 inches long, it's deceptively small - just 0.4 inches longer than the '90s coupe. Further, both the Juke and the NX1600 rely on 1.6-liter four-cylinder power. And like the Sentra-based NX, the more emotional Juke is based on the same humble underpinnings that give structure to Nissan's workaday offerings, in this case, the Versa and Cube. And while the Juke may not be cute as a bug, there's something downright insectian about its Predator-like mug.

Despite not being a traditional sporty car, Nissan has been talking up its controversially styled mini-ute with many of the same descriptors, so we hopped a plane to Vancouver to see if the Juke could bob and weave its way into our hearts. Follow the jump to find out how it fared.

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Juke: First Drive

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Nissan Juke

First Drive: 2011 Nissan Juke originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Nissan Juke starts at $18,960*

Zach Bowman — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, SUV, Hatchback, Nissan

2011 Nissan Juke - Click above for high-res image gallery

Nissan has just released pricing for the 2011 Juke - the company's new baby CUV. Buyers looking to scramble into the driver's seat can look forward to a base MSRP of $18,960 (*plus destination) for the Juke S when equipped with a CVT and front-wheel drive. Prices for the range-topping Juke SL with a CVT and all-wheel drive hit a ceiling of $24,550 before any options are added.

All models will come from the factory with a new direct-injection turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 188 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Nissan says that when bolted to the company's efficient CVT, the Juke should return 27 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. Meanwhile, six-speed manual-equipped models start at $20,260.

Buyers wanting to take advantage of the Juke's torque-vectoring all-wheel drive can hop into the Juke S AWD. That model, which is available only with a CVT, starts at $20,460, landing it squarely in Subaru Forester and Mini Countryman territory. With a low price, plenty of onboard tech and quirky, youth-oriented styling, we're expecting to see plenty of these on the road in short order when it goes on sale this October. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Nissan Juke

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading 2011 Nissan Juke starts at $18,960*

2011 Nissan Juke starts at $18,960* originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan prices 2011 Juke in UK - What should it cost in the States? [w/poll]

Zach Bowman — Fri, 28 May 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Crossover, Nissan, UK, Diesel

2011 Nissan Juke - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's a big day for the upcoming Nissan Juke. Not only did Nissan drop UK pricing details on its little run about, but the company also dumped a smattering of new photos on the interwebs at the same time. If you happen to find yourself living in the old empire and want to lay your hands on the new crossover, get ready to shell out around £12,795 for the base model. That equates to around $18,500 at current conversion rates, but includes Britain's 17.5 percent Value Added Tax. Subtract the VAT and the base MSRP would be around $15,250. That's a reasonable baseline comparison, but of course, there are other market-specific factors to consider in a price comparison.

The base model packs a 117 horsepower 1.6-liter gasoline engine, though a 110 horsepower diesel mill is also available in ol Blighty. Step up to the 190 horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter and all-wheel drive, and you're looking at a final price tag of £19,995 - around $23,850 after converting from the mighty pound and ditching the VAT. At that price point, buyers are treated to a new XTRONIC CVT with torque-vectoring all-wheel drive.

Those numbers should give us a feel for how the 2011 Nissan Juke will be priced once it hits our shores, though don't hold us to it. The oddly styled Juke is deceptively small and will likely straddle the various segments in the entry-level class. Off-hand, we can see it doing battle with the forthcoming Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, the Suzuki SX4, inexpensive 'box' cars like the Kia Soul, along with basic hatchbacks.

Be sure to check the gallery for the rash of new photos, hit the jump for the full press release, and most importantly, vote on where you think the Juke needs to be priced when it comes in the states in our poll below.

View Poll

Gallery: Nissan Juke

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan prices 2011 Juke in UK - What should it cost in the States? [w/poll]

Nissan prices 2011 Juke in UK - What should it cost in the States? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 May 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2010: 2011 Nissan Juke is actually pretty neat

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Budget, Japan, Crossover, Nissan

2011 Nissan Juke - Click above for high-res image gallery

Attention all you small crossover fans out there, now is the time to get excited. Nissan pulled back the curtain on the 2011 Juke and although we've seen it (at the Geneva Motor Show), we're still glad it's here. We're being implored to mention that some of us think the front end has a Pontiac Aztek quality about it. Others ("Hi, Mom!") feel different. Yeah, it's... not normal looking, but we've seen worse. At least it's not derivative. The rest of the Juke's styling, however, is much less controversial. Especially that rear three-quarter view.

Sadly, Nissan has neglected to hold a press conference for the Juke, so we're still not sure exactly how much power this mini-ute is making. For now, we're stuck with the "180+ horsepower and 170+ lb-ft of torque" from its 1.6-liter direct-injected four-cylinder turbo, figures that are cited in the car's press release. There's a manual option for the front drivers, but CVT-only for the torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive versions. As soon as we can track down a Nissan employee with the details, we'll update the post. Until then, chew on this for more details. Also, while this here Juke is a right-hand driver, Nissan will be selling Jukes to us left-seat driving, high-rider loving Yanks come 2011.

UPDATE: We've talked Nissan's people here in NYC and until the 1.6-liter goes through the EPA, those numbers are still estimates. Nissan will tweak the engine to hit its mileage targets, at which point horsepower and torque figures will be solidified.

Gallery: New York 2010: Nissan Juke

Continue reading New York 2010: 2011 Nissan Juke is actually pretty neat

New York 2010: 2011 Nissan Juke is actually pretty neat originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2010: Nissan Juke poised to bring the small and funky to America

Chris Paukert — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:00:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Crossover, Nissan

2011 Nissan Juke - Click above for high-res image gallery

Nissan won't have its official press conference for a few hours, but we've already snagged these shots of the production Juke, an oddly styled smaller-than-you-think crossover that's poised to hit North America for 2011. In person, the Juke is perhaps less bizarre than one might think, with the exuberance of its alien face reined in with comparatively modest alloy wheels, traditional doors and Volvo C30-like taillamps. If you're wondering where the Juke fits into the Nissan lineup that already has the Murano, Rogue and the Qashqai, this vehicle is markedly smaller than the Murano and actually appears smaller than the Rogue.

The interior is pure Nissan, though it looks like the Japanese automaker has put a few more dollars into some of its interior plastics and materials than it has in the past. In particular, the new HVAC controls have a crisp and colorful display, and the transmission tunnel has a quasi motorcycle-tank look about it.

For Europe, the Juke is available with a pair of 1.6-liter gasoline engines in either normally aspirated or turbocharged direct-injected form, as well as a 1.5-liter diesel, the latter of which is unlikely to make it to North America. The compact CUV will be made in both front- and all-wheel drive configurations, the latter being a newly developed torque-vectoring system dubbed ALL-Mode 4x4-i that is capable of splitting power 50:50 from front-to-rear as well as side-to-side.

We expect to see the Juke make its North American debut in New York. While you're waiting, check out our high-res galleries below and the official press release after the jump.

Gallery: Geneva 2010: Nissan Juke

Gallery: Nissan Juke

Live photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Geneva 2010: Nissan Juke poised to bring the small and funky to America

Geneva 2010: Nissan Juke poised to bring the small and funky to America originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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