Story & photos by Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes
NOW, this is not intended for anything else but to firmly utter the word and emphasize that after more than three long heartbreaking years of waiting, Nissan’s compact crossover is finally here on our shores.
Indeed, last Monday night was made special for Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) as they did not just celebrate their second year anniversary in the country, but also had a chance to officially signal the arrival of the much-anticipated Nissan Juke.
The Juke was first introduced in Japan in 2010, and it has since captured the eye of the global automotive scene because of its sleek and bold design, not to mention its exceptionally rousing driving performance.
Last year the minor change Nissan Juke was unveiled in the Geneva International Motor Show, which was then brought to Southeast Asia handing Thailand the first glimpse in February 2015. Since then, it has been sending ripples throughout the region, and more so giving the reason for Filipinos to itch for the so-called stunner.
This time, witnessing firsthand, the Juke is indeed a sight to behold. It marries both style and excitement, zest and a sense of class, thus, indeed, ushering in Nissan’s answer to the growing local compact crossover segment.
“With our new Rediscover Excitement brand campaign with the Juke, we aim to excite all Filipino motorists,” said Antonio Zara, NPI president.
“Built-to-thrill, we want to provide a bold design and an exhilarating driving performance, to answer their needs in this segment,” he added.
A first look at the Nissan Juke reminds one of a tenacious rebel leader with a cause as it is sure to stand out from the rest of the crossover crowd. It immediately commands attention. The perfect mesh of its boomerang-shaped LED combination lamps set high upon the hood, complimenting the large round headlamps and fog lamps below is one that makes it unique. Coupled with Nissan’s signature V-grille and under guard intake, only a fool can miss its sportiness and beauty on the road.
Further proving its extraordinary appeal are its embedded rear door handles in the rear pillars, reminiscent of two-door sports coupes, while 17-inch alloy wheels put an exclamation point to this rare handsome beast.
They call the design Robiotic, derived from the words mechanical (Robo) and living body (Bio). This concept allowed Nissan engineers to create a car that is a perfect balance of the body and its mechanisms, thus, giving us a reminder of its superb driving acumen. Inside, the Juke’s radical sporty personality is further amplified by its revolutionary character lines, round dials and circular air-conditioning vents. Even making its bold nature palpable is its motorbike design style as it features a gas-tank inspired center console. With a 60/40 seat configuration, it gives one sufficient space for luggage and five adults.
Other features include Integrated Control System Icon and three drive modes: Normal, Sport and Eco.
Under the hood, the Juke is powered by a 1.6-liter DOHC engine paired with the new generation Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission CVT that delivers 116PS with 154 Nm of torque. It is further complemented with a cruise control feature for easy handling on long stretches.
Safety-wise, one can be stress-free with Nissan’s compact crossover equipped with front independent MacPherson Struts, dual SRS air bags, ABS, EBD, brake assist and a rear parking camera.
The new Nissan Juke will be offered as a 4×2 variant with a P980,000 SRP, with units available come January 2016. It will come in Red Alert, Solar Yellow, Pearl White and Black Obsidian.
In an interview, Zara shared: “When we started our operations two years ago, we were only 10th in terms of sales in the local auto industry. Now, we are currently seventh. We target to aim higher in the coming years, even third,” he asserted.
That, indeed, is no comedienne’s line uttered in a Visayan accent coupled by a silly dance move, but—of strong resolve. And, thus, together with exciting vehicles, spearheaded by the Nissan Juke, that definitely is no joke.