When Nissan got the hair-brained idea to stuff the drivetrain from their GT-R supercar into the subcompact Juke crossover, the automotive industry raised an eyebrow. The attempt seemed rather farfetched but despite the doubt, the automaker’s engineers did the unthinkable and made it work. Originally meant to be a simple act of showing off, the twin turbocharged, all wheel drive rocket ship proved to be so popular that Nissan is back at it with an even nuttier move. Instead of simply showing off the complete concept car, the Juke-R will be made available to purchase by the general public meaning that soon enough, a Ferrari driver will be utterly humiliated by a funny looking utility vehicle.
“With such a strong reaction, and with three genuine offers on the table, we decided we had to make the car a reality,” said Gareth Dunsmore, Marketing Product Manager for the Juke. When Nissan finished the original car in January, it showcased the lunacy in Dubai which brought more than just shocked reactions. While at the launch event, serious offers were made to purchase the Juke-R which is why requests will be taken for made-to-order models. Unlike the first concept, the public Juke-Rs will use the upgraded 2012 GT-R running gear meaning 545 horsepower will be on the table. As of this writing, Nissan has three vehicles to make and with orders opened for the next four weeks, that number could very well jump up.
“We can’t let down enthusiasts who are this keen to add to their collection of cars. The Juke-R has become something of a phenomenon and I’m enormously proud of the impact it has had,” said Dunsmore.
Source: Nissan
