Juke, baby brother to Qashqai and Murano, launching in Europe. Juke combines attitude, irreverence, modish style and energy with a mischievous sense of fun. There's nothing quite like it on the roads today...

At a glance:
• Developed from Qazana concept car
• Two- and four-wheel drive versions
• Technologically advanced information system
• Designed and engineered in Europe and Japan
• Built in Europe and Japan
• Sold globally

Juke follows in the wheeltracks of Murano and the ultra successful Qashqai & Qashqai+2. Like its bigger brothers, Juke is a distinctive combination of SUV toughness and sporting style. Conceived to inject some masculinity and dynamism into the small car market, Juke combines a number of seeming contradictions beneath its highly individual lines.

"It takes the best elements of an SUV and sports car and combines them," says Vincent Wijnen, Nissan's European Vice President for Marketing. "It's roomy yet compact, robust yet dynamic and practical yet playful."

From a design standpoint, the lower portion of Juke is pure SUV. It combines chunky 17-inch wheels, wide tyres, extended ground clearance and a robust stance with a top portion that is unadulterated sports car, with a high waistline, slim visor-like side glass graphics and a coupé-style falling roofline. The coupé effect is further underlined by the rear doors which have their handles hidden in the frame of the door.

Juke was created at the London-based Nissan Design Europe (NDE) and refined at Nissan's Design Centre (NDC) in Japan. Its arresting shape was first seen in the Qazana show car shown at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show... indeed, its highly individual lines are carried over virtually intact from Qazana.

Juke drives as well as it looks. Its compact dimensions and wide track mean Juke enjoys class leading handling characteristics along with exceptional ride comfort and enhanced levels of refinement. Juke is based on the Renault-Nissan Alliance B-Platform, which has been updated for this application.

Although the basic suspension system mirrors that found on other B-segment cars, with MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the back, a new cradle-type front subframe has enhanced the lateral stiffness of the assembly. Along with revised front suspension geometry, this has helped to promote better handling and ride comfort along with greater refinement.

In an urban environment, the combination of higher ground clearance and large tyres mean that speed bumps and poor road surfaces will not cause as much discomfort as they would to a conventional sports hatchback. Despite the SUV stance and comparatively high hip-point, Juke's roll centres are as low as possible to reduce body roll when cornering. Agile handling is also helped by speed-sensitive electric power steering, standard on all models, and by increased upper-body strength and stiffness.

Three different engines will be available when sales start in Europe later in the year: one diesel and two 1.6-litre petrol units. At the top of the range is a new turbocharged petrol engine (MR16DDT) with direct injection (DIG-T), developing 140kW and 240 Nm. The second petrol engine is a newly developed version from Nissan's trusted HR-family. Designated HR16DE, the lightweight, low-friction 16-valve unit now has a unique dual-injection system allowing finer metering of the fuel sprays for better combustion and develops 86kW. The K9K 81kW (110PS) 1.5-litre dCi common rail diesel offers excellent driveability - thanks to its heady 240 Nm of torque.

Inside, the sports car theme continues with a cockpit oriented cabin dominated by a centre console design inspired by a motorcycle fuel tank. Finished in a distinctive high gloss colour - metallic red or grey - the ‘bike' console adds a sense of fun to the car. Practicality is assured by the rear-opening hatch and versatile luggage area with hidden storage opportunities.

Nissan Dynamic Control System (NDCS) is Juke's advanced driver central command and information system which allows the driver to alter the car's dynamic settings as well as make changes to more obvious functions such as climate control. Overall, NDCS adds a feeling of cool, engaging technology to the interior.

“We are excited about the launch of Juke internationally, and the possibility of bringing this vehicle to New Zealand in the future,” says John Manley, Managing Director of Nissan New Zealand. “Juke represents a opportunity for us to build on the success of Qashqai and bring something entirely new and original to the market.”

Juke is also unlike any product Nissan has sold in the segment before, but the success of Qashqai in particular means customers are now more in tune with the concept of a small Crossover vehicle. Juke is under evaluation for the New Zealand market, although engine options and possible introduction timing are yet to be determined.