2012 Nissan JUKE: Exhilaration for All

Boasting a uniquely dynamic combination of style, performance and fuel-efficiency, the Nissan JUKE was unlike anything else on the market when it was first introduced for the 2011 model year. And since the competition still hasn’t caught up, Nissan has made only minor changes to the 2012 version.

That means the JUKE still holsters a turbocharged Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) I4 engine that squeezes 188 hp and 177 lb.-ft. of torque out of just 1.6 liters of displacement and can be mated to one of two transmissions: an Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) with performance-enhancing S-Mode or, with the front-wheel-drive JUKE SV or SL, a six-speed manual. Xtronic offers a further bonus, too, because the CVT allows drivers to add a torque-vectoring AWD system to the JUKE. This setup not only can adjust the torque distribution between the front and back wheels—sending up to 50 percent to the rears—but it also can vary the torque from side to side. The result: Reduced understeer and improved steering feel while cornering.

The 2012 JUKE also retains on its spec sheet:

• Efficient EPA ratings of 27 mpg city/32 mpg highway/29 mpg combined
• Eye-popping looks, with a high-profile exterior and an athletic cabin,
• featuring bolstered front seats and, for a further reminder of the JUKE’s nature, a center console that takes its cues from motorcycle fuel tanks
• A console-mounted shift lever
• 60/40 fold-down rear seats
• A rearview camera system
• Nissan’s Intelligent Key with push-button start
• Navigation
• The automaker’s I-CON driver interface system with three driving modes—Sport, Normal and Eco
• Standard Bluetooth capability, including hands-free phone functionality
• Standard iPod connectivity
• A premium six-speaker sound system with available 8-inch Rockford Fosgate subwoofer

Source: nissaninthenews.com