2015 Nissan Juke
Having created the blueprint for B-segment crossovers little more than three years ago, the innovative Juke is set to extend its advantage with a significantly revised new model. Still unique and utterly original in design, the new Juke confirms Nissan's undisputed leadership of the crossover market, introducing a host of exciting and innovative new technology and styling features.
OVERVIEW
Thanks to its dramatic design and advanced technology, the Juke has become the runaway leader of the B-segment crossover sector. The Juke's combination of highly individual styling, strong driving dynamics and sophisticated interior equipment has allowed it to storm from zero to 500,000 sales since its launch, easily eclipsing its rivals. In the UK alone, there have been more than 100,000 Nissan Juke's sold since sales began in 2010.
Now, following Nissan's established practice of constant development, comes the next chapter in the Juke story. Establishing itself as the original stand-out model in the growing B-segment crossover market with its unique combination of sport and SUV design, the new Juke is ready to once again stamp its authority on the segment it created.
Already recognised as the design trend-setter, the new Juke benefits from a series of design enhancements, new engines and technologies and a wide-ranging personalisation programme.
The changes are extensive including; a new design at the front and rear with greater emphasis on both premium refinement and sporty design cues, a new downsized DIG-T 115 turbocharged engine offering greater performance, economy and lower emissions, a revised DIG-T 190 engine, a personalisation programme, advanced equipment including a new audio system, the latest generation NissanConnect driver-vehicle interface, Nissan Safety Shield, Nissan's Dynamic Control system, plus a new open-air panoramic glass roof.
While revisions in the luggage area have increased space by 40 per cent (up to 354 litres) in two-wheel drive versions, there is now even greater opportunity for owners to really stamp their own personality on their Juke, with a new personalisation programme called ‘Nissan Design Studio', offering a range of new colours and interior and exterior themes.
The changes and range of additions to the new Juke will accelerate the growth of Nissan's second most popular model in Europe, helping it to emulate the remarkable achievements of its big brother Qashqai.
The Juke is the best seller in the premium B-segment, outperforming all direct competitors, including those from the top German brands. Well on its way to over 500,000 sales, the Juke achieved 135,000 sales in 2013 with its popularity set to increase with the introduction of the new version. All Juke models sold in Europe are built in Europe, at Nissan's hugely productive plant in Sunderland.
Significantly for Nissan, the Juke has attracted a huge number of buyers who are new to the brand. As much as 82 per cent of sales have been to first-time Nissan owners, not only making it the highest conquest model in the Nissan range but a model that comfortably outperforms the B-segment average with many of those new buyers downsizing from larger cars.
The new Juke will go on sale across Europe in the summer.
DESIGN
Bold design has always set the Juke apart from any rival, offering a mixture of crossover toughness with sporting appeal that has seen it become a design icon.
Although radically altering the proportions would undermine the Juke's unmistakable presence, Nissan's design team managed to make significant changes and enhancements to the car's styling while retaining and enhancing the brand's acclaimed crossover DNA.
At the front, the upper lamps have been redesigned to adopt the Nissan's signature ‘boomerang' shape - as seen on 370Z, new Qashqai and new Murano - and now too incorporate bi-intensity LED daytime running lamps. The headlights are now available with Xenon bulbs for better visibility and new lens covers. The nose incorporates a new, more powerful V-shaped grille, while the lower elements have been toughened with new trim beneath the bumper.
Door mirrors have been revised to include LED side turn strip repeaters and, where fitted, cameras for the Around View Monitor.
At the rear, the bumper has a more aggressive shape to match new revised boomerang tail lamps with LED light guide technology, giving the new Juke a more distinctive appearance at night.
The new colour palette now extends to ten colours and includes three new shades: Sunlight Yellow metallic, Ink Blue metallic and solid Red.
A wide range of alloy wheels completes the exterior revisions, with 16-inch steels available on entry-level Visia models and different styles of 17 or 18-inch alloys on Acenta, Acenta Premium and Tekna variants. A new 18-inch alloy wheel with coloured inserts will also be available, allowing drivers to add their personal touch.
Nissan Design Studio
Personalisation becomes an integral part of new Juke ownership with the Nissan Design Studio personalisation packs available on the Acenta Premium and Tekna grades. The customisation packages provide opportunity to add individual touches to the new model, with an array of colours and quirks to tailor the look of the interior and exterior.
In standard form, the Juke interior theme is a sophisticated grey on Visia and Acenta, but Nissan designers have found ways to make the interior even more bold and dynamic on the higher grades. The all new Nissan Design Studio interior personalisation pack allows for brightly coloured inserts to be added, free of charge on Acenta Premium and Tekna. With a choice of black, red, white or even bright yellow - you can change the centre console, door finishers, air vent rings, and even the stitching of the gear knob, steering wheel, seats and meter hood lid leather cover. Depending on the model, there are two styles of fabric for the seat upholstery - Premium cloth on Acenta Premium and leather trim on Tekna.
To keep the Juke as one of the most distinctively designed vehicles on the roads, the exterior pack also comes equipped with the choice of the four new colours (red, white, black and yellow) with customisation options available for the mirror cap covers, headlamp finishers right through to the front and rear bumper finishers.
Finally, not only does the Nissan Design Studio offer record levels of personalisation options for the interior and exterior of the new Juke but now, an array of styling options for the alloy wheels are also available. The new Juke's latest colour palette of red, white, black and bright yellow can be customised onto the 18 inch alloy wheels to coordinate with the rest of the exciting new styling options.
Practicality
Changes have also been made to the shape of the trunk area in two-wheel drive models to boost luggage space by an impressive 40 per cent, taking the overall capacity to a class-leading 354 litres. Unlike rivals, Juke can carry a large and a medium suitcase at the same time, and is also deep and wide enough to carry a chassis-type pushchair.
Versatility is further enhanced with flat folding rear seat, making it easier to load large objects, while the inclusion of a two-stage floor in the luggage area makes the space even more flexible.
A further final option opens a whole new world to Acenta, Acenta Premium and Tekna owners - literally. A large open-air panoramic glass roof allows not just daylight to flood into the cabin but also fresh air as required. When opened, the panel sits on top of the rear portion of the roof so as not to steal interior headroom. The glass panel measures 964mm wide by 837mm long and covers two thirds of the roof area. This is matched by an opening width of 693mm and an opening length of 301mm to add to the feeling of airiness in the cockpit.
New NissanConnect technology
The Juke, as with the rest of the Nissan crossover family, comes with the latest generation of NissanConnect, which now offers smartphone connectivity with access to a variety of apps ranging from social media platforms to entertainment - including internet radio - through a large, 5.8in colour touch screen. The latest generation satellite navigation system integrates Google Online Search. This application offers the most up-to-date location based information: fuel stations hotels, restaurants, among many others. All these points of interest can be searched through Google's hands-free voice command and categorized by distance and customer ratings.
A send-to-car function also allows drivers to search for their destination at home and send instructions to NissanConnect system at the click of a button. The system includes Bluetooth audio streaming and mobile phone integration as well as Aux-in and USB slots.
When not in infotainment mode, the screen doubles as a monitor for the newest version of Nissan's pioneering Around View Monitor which gives a complete real-time 360 degree ‘helicopter' view around the car to make manoeuvring as safe and easy as possible.
New to Juke - Nissan Safety Shield
Nissan's drive to make its cars as safe as possible takes another step forward with the introduction of its acclaimed Safety Shield system to the new Juke range. Fitted as standard to Tekna models, Nissan Safety Shield combines the vehicles Around View Monitor cameras with advanced electronics and software to provide a comprehensive suite of safety features.
Included in the Juke's Nissan Safety Shield are:
Lane Departure Warning
This highly advanced system alerts the driver if the new Juke starts to drift out of lane. Lane Departure Warning uses sophisticated image-reading software to detect road markings, allowing the system to determine if the car is moving out of position. If it does and the driver has not operated the indicators, a warning is given.
Blind Spot Warning
Using the Around View Monitor to detect vehicles in the hidden blind spot areas, Blind Spot Warning triggers the illumination of a discreet warning light positioned in the door mirrors. If the driver indicates to change lanes and the system detects a vehicle in the danger area (on either side), the light flashes and an audible warning is given.
Moving Object Detection
The new Juke's Moving Object Detection system combines the vehicle's front and rear parking sensors with Nissan's acclaimed Around View Monitor ‘bird's eye view' parking aid to deliver an extra level of protection.
If, when stationary, something moves into the area covered by the four cameras, the system will give an audible warning and highlight the area in which the moving object is detected. Mounted on the tailgate and having a fish-eye lens, the rear wide view AVM camera has a sweep of vision in excess of 180 degrees, giving it an unparalleled field of vision at the back of the car. Images from the camera are displayed on the NissanConnect screen on the centre console.
To keep this essential camera clean, the car's computer senses when there is dirt on the lens and uses a ‘wash and blow dry' system to automatically rinse and then dry the surface.
DRIVETRAINS
A total of five engines are available for the new Juke, three remain as before - the 1.6 94PS, the 1.6 117 CVT and the recently introduced and highly acclaimed dCi 110 - with the addition of two brand new petrol options.
The Alliance-developed DIG-T 115 petrol engine, which comes as an option to replace the outgoing 117PS 1.6-litre unit, is an advanced turbocharged direct injection engine delivering 115PS (85kW) and generating 190Nm of torque.
Despite its modest size, the DIG-T 115 turbocharged engine packs a real punch, offering sharper acceleration and greater torque (190Nm) for added flexibility than the outgoing 1.6-litre naturally aspirated unit.
Now with six gears, the Juke's new engine's lower weight, standard automatic Stop/Start feature and more fuel-efficient operation translates to cleaner and more economical performance. The DIG-T 115 engine emits 129g/km of CO2 and has a fuel consumption figure of 51.4mpg (combined cycle).
In keeping with the trend of downsizing engines, the existing DIG-T 190 petrol unit has been further improved to deliver more low end torque below 2,000rpm. Producing 190PS (140kW), it is already Euro6 compliant with target emissions of 139g/km of CO2 for the 2WD versions. Among its new features are a higher combustion ratio (increased from 9.5 to 10.5:1), improved low friction technologies and cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation.
As well as a six-speed manual transmission, new Juke DIG-T 190 is also available with a new X-Tronic transmission gearbox mated to an advance four-wheel-drive system.
A revised version of the CVT transmission offered in the original Juke, the new XTronic gearbox delivers a smooth and natural driving experience. The new transmission now offers class leading gear ratio spread, with 17% more coverage than the old unit. This is effectively like adding more gears to a conventional transmission and improves acceleration at low speed while increasing refinement and economy at cruising speeds. Efficiency has also been improved by reducing internal friction by 40%. The result is a gearbox that offers the best of both worlds, with crisp performance under high acceleration and smooth delivery when the pace slows.
CHASSIS
As before, the Juke also offers customers the option of all-wheel-drive with Nissan's ALL-MODE 4x4i transmission. Available with the DIG-T 190 XTronic powertrain, the system features Nissan's acclaimed Torque Vectoring System (TVS) to prevent understeer and improve traction.
As well splitting torque front to rear - up to a maximum of 50:50 - it can be split from side-to-side across the rear axle, too. Information collected by various sources (measuring wheel speed, steering angle, yaw rate and lateral G) is interpreted to anticipate the driver's intention.
Cornering ability is enhanced by increasing torque to the outside rear wheel, reducing understeer. The system quickly and faithfully follows direction change commands from the driver - whether cornering or lane changing. Under cornering, the system increases power to the outer wheel, the left-right difference adding yaw momentum to the vehicle and helping the car follow its intended course.
VALUE AND EQUIPMENT
Standard equipment on all models includes LED daytime running lamps, CD radio with an AUX-In socket, driver seat height adjustment, drive computer, gear-shift indicator to promote a more efficient driving style and tyre pressure monitor system. The Visia has 16" alloy wheels and manual air conditioning.
Acenta models are enhanced with front fog lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic air conditioning, remote audio controls, Bluetooth connectivity for phone and audio streaming, cruise control and limiter, Nissan Dynamic Control System, rear privacy glass and chrome interior touches.
Enhances for the new Juke, Nissan Dynamic Control is an advanced driver control system giving the choice of three different driving modes - Normal, Sport or Eco - along with instant driving information and vehicle setting controls.
Motorists opting for the Acenta Premium model will also benefit from the latest generation of NissanConnect, a colour reversing camera, DAB radio, premium sports seats and of course, Nissan's new personalisation programme, the Nissan Design Studio Interior Pack.
Tekna models add power folding door mirrors, light and rain sensors, i-Key with engine start button and the latest Nissan technologies - Around View Monitor and Safety Shield.
