Friday 9th December 2011

Did Nissan HQ not know about the Juke-R?

That's the rumour... but the truth is otherwise

---

Rumours are currently doing the internet rounds that the new Nissan Juke-R has been born without the approval of execs in Japan.

Which, given the massive marketing push behind the challenging-looking crossover with the innards of the mighty R35 GT-R, we found extremely odd. Cue a spot of interrogation of Nissan UK high-ups.

And it seems that there is a grain of truth (albeit a small one) in story progenitor Autoblog's original article.

"The Juke R is a Nissan Europe project that's been undertaken with the full backing of management in Japan," A senior Nissan source told us. Apparently there is one person who's not fully behind the project, however, and that's Kazutoshi Mizuno, the 'father of the GT-R'.

Then again, Mizuno-san is famously protective of his baby, and we're sure that to him turning the GT-R into the Juke-R is akin to someone painting a clown face on the Mona Lisa...

But there is one thing we want to take the fine folks at Autoblog to task on: calling the folks at Cranfield (who started the project) and RML (who have taken it on subsequently) 'a bunch of rag-tag engineers'. These are the people responsible for engineering the Qashqai and Juke and, in the case of RML, running successful WTCC, BTCC and Le Mans campaigns. The cheek of it...

[Lightningman]

Proof, if it was ever needed, that you cannot polish a turd.

Thanks for posting those photos PH, you've just put me off my lunch

[Beefmeister]

The article said:

But there is one thing we want to take the fine folks at Autoblog to task on: calling the folks at Cranfield (who started the project) and RML (who have taken it on subsequently) 'a bunch of rag-tag engineers'. These are the people responsible for engineering the Qashqai and Juke and, in the case of RML, running successful WTCC, BTCC and Le Mans campaigns. The cheek of it...

And Riggers' new 370Z long termer arrives on Tuesday...

[JRM Rossi]

Bit ugly but its got bhp !

[vz-r_dave]

Sorry what makes this car a turd?? Because its different to the rest of the completely bland options available in its market? Because its design language has changed the rule books?

It may not be tastefull to some and yourself it seems but its not a turd, its far from it.

I can not get over such ignorance that PH breeds. fking drive's me mad.

[frosted]

I really like it from that side shot

[Attym3]

vz-r_dave said:

Sorry what makes this car a turd?? Because its different to the rest of the completely bland options available in its market? Because its design language has changed the rule books?

It may not be tastefull to some and yourself it seems but its not a turd, its far from it.

I can not get over such ignorance that PH breeds. fking drive's me mad.

It's not pretty though is it?

[Riggers]

Beefmeister said:

The article said:

But there is one thing we want to take the fine folks at Autoblog to task on: calling the folks at Cranfield (who started the project) and RML (who have taken it on subsequently) 'a bunch of rag-tag engineers'. These are the people responsible for engineering the Qashqai and Juke and, in the case of RML, running successful WTCC, BTCC and Le Mans campaigns. The cheek of it...

And Riggers' new 370Z long termer arrives on Tuesday...

Indeed

Actually - and Garlick will confirm this - I got all angry about Autoblog impugning the reputation of the motorsport engineers of This Sceptr'd Isle without any prompting from Nissan

[Cyder]

ETA Good man Riggers, one shiny new Micra is on its way to you.

Edited by Cyder on Friday 9th December 12:28

[Lightningman]

vz-r_dave said:

Sorry what makes this car a turd?? Because its different to the rest of the completely bland options available in its market? Because its design language has changed the rule books?

It may not be tastefull to some and yourself it seems but its not a turd, its far from it.

I can not get over such ignorance that PH breeds. fking drive's me mad.

How is stating ones opinion of a material object and the aesthetic value of it "ignorance"?

Wind you neck back in. This is a discussion forum, not an 'Everyone must agree with your opinion forum'.

Would you like me to break down my opinion of why something is visually unappealing to me? If so, for a start, look at the amount of bodywork which is simply form over function (for a start the rippled pudgy side skirts).

Just because it is fast, doesn't mean it is pretty.

[Rusty-C]

Lightningman said:

Proof, if it was ever needed, that you cannot polish a turd.

Thanks for posting those photos PH, you've just put me off my lunch

Actually, you can polish a turd; saw it on MythBusters, but I've yet to see them make a Juke look pretty.

[thecremeegg]

I think I must be the only person in the the world that likes the shape of the Juke? And that Juke-R looks amazing!

[jimxms]

vz-r_dave said:

Sorry what makes this car a turd?? Because its different to the rest of the completely bland options available in its market? Because its design language has changed the rule books?

It may not be tastefull to some and yourself it seems but its not a turd, its far from it.

I can not get over such ignorance that PH breeds. fking drive's me mad.

In terms of exterior appearance I'd say it has all the appeal of a turd. But I'd still drive one as I bet it goes like st off a shovel

[Riggers]

Cyder said:

ETA Good man Riggers, one shiny new Micra is on its way to you.

Edited by Cyder on Friday 9th December 12:28

Marvellous. I can start my own driving school.... BSM watch out...

(actually does BSM even exist anymore?)

[SWoll]

Lightningman said:

vz-r_dave said:

Sorry what makes this car a turd?? Because its different to the rest of the completely bland options available in its market? Because its design language has changed the rule books?

It may not be tastefull to some and yourself it seems but its not a turd, its far from it.

I can not get over such ignorance that PH breeds. fking drive's me mad.

How is stating ones opinion of a material object and the aesthetic value of it "ignorance"?

Wind you neck back in. This is a discussion forum, not an 'Everyone must agree with your opinion forum'.

Would you like me to break down my opinion of why something is visually unappealing to me? If so, for a start, look at the amount of bodywork which is simply form over function (for a start the rippled pudgy side skirts).

Just because it is fast, doesn't mean it is pretty.

I actually quite like the way the Juke looks, although i'm not convinced the 'additions' here help, but completely agree with your comments regarding vz-r_dave's post Lightingman.

Aesthetics are such a personal thing that you just need to respect that other people's opinions are different to yours and leave it at that. Suggesting it is "ignorance" is quite ironic I think.

I'm personally a bit sick of the 'it's different so it's automatically good' argument and the morally superior mentality that appears to go with it that keeps getting trotted out on here lately.

thecremeegg said:

I think I must be the only person in the the world that likes the shape of the Juke? And that Juke-R looks amazing!

Nope. There are more of us than you would be led to believe.

[CarlT]

thecremeegg said:

I think I must be the only person in the the world that likes the shape of the Juke? And that Juke-R looks amazing!

I agree completely

[mightymouse]

CarlT said:

thecremeegg said:

And that Juke-R looks amazing!

I agree completely

So do I
It would make a great tarmac rally car or track toy

[Oddball RS]

Enough already! i don't want to know the designers son's dogs name either, if your short of news just do a trawl of youtube, please!

[RossP]

I think the normal Juke is hideous. However I think the Juke-R looks fantastic!

[forzaminardi]

Bit fed up of the constant "stories" about this pointless vehicle...

[Rumblestripe]

Speaking of polishing turds. Can someone please tell me how semimatt black/grey all over looks anything other than like the car is still in primer?

I'm in the "quite like the Juke" school. At least it's DIFFERENT not just a tick all the salesman's boxes type design (yes, I'm looking at you Germans now)! Well done Nissan.