NISSAN Juke Nismo Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Nissan pushed the limits of its small-sized crossover Juke and provided the car with a turbocharged gasoline engine that transformed the vehicle into a hi-riser hot hatch.

The Japanese automaker was too bold when it made the Juke, a car that polarized the brand's fans. But all of them had to admit that the Nismo version made for this little crossover was a different kind of vehicle, and most of them were ready to forget the unusual car's look.

Nissan gambled a lot when it designed the Juke with the unusually big headlights mounted on the lower bumper and the turn signals and parking lights placed on top of the front fenders. In the Nismo version, the Juke also came with a different apron at the front, with LED daytime running lights and a splitter. Moreover, the red caps for the door mirrors and the diamond-cut light alloy wheels emphasized the car's sporty character. Finally, at the back, the automaker pushed the design limits harder and placed a roof spoiler on top of the tailgate.

The interior was cramped as on the rest of the range, but in this case, the front occupants enjoyed the high-bolstered bucket seats wrapped in Alcantara and fabric. Still, the instrument cluster featured the same binocular styling with a red tachometer on the left and a speedometer on the right, flanking the TFT display for the onboard computer.

But the main reason why this car was built was found underneath its hood, where Nissan placed a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. The base version sent all the oomph to the front wheels via a six-speed manual, while an all-wheel drive model was also available, but with a CVT gearbox.