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]

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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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Report: Nissan's head U.S. designer, Bruce Campbell to retire at end of March

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Nissan, Design/Style

Nissan 370Z Roadster by Bruce Campbell - click above for high-res image gallery

When we first met Nissan's vice president-design for North America Bruce Campbell, we were amused by his name. Hey, we've seen Evil Dead II at least fifty times. But after a few minutes of conversation with Nissan's highest-ranking U.S. designer, we were deeply impressed by his humor, ideas about design ("The Corvette looks fast standing still, the 370Z looks fast at speed") and his soft-spoken grace. Sadly, Mr. Campbell is disembarking from the Nissan ship after more than thirty years at sea, reports Wards Auto.

Campbell's career reads like a Nissan greatest design hits list, having worked on the (still fab looking) "Hardbody" trucks, the third-generation Maxima, the Xterra and more recently, the new latest Maxima, the Rogue and the 370Z. Going back to our conversation, Bruce explained to us that the 350Z was designed only as a coupe, and that the 350Z Roadster looked odd because it was an afterthought. From the start, the 370Z was designed to be both a coupe and a convertible. We think he did well. We also think that his successor and current European design chief Alfonso Albaisa has some pretty big shoes to fill.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Wards Auto]

Report: Nissan's head U.S. designer, Bruce Campbell to retire at end of March originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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