When the Juke-R hit the show circuit as a concept car, Nissan pretty much laid out that it wasn’t going to be a reality. Well, after a few tours around the world and on a few of the toughest tracks that the world has to offer, Nissan->ke62 finally let us know that the Juke-R would indeed be a production model, but only in very limited quantities. Here we are getting ready to put the wraps on 2012 and Nissan has just completed Nissan Juke-R #001 – the first ever of its kind.

When the Juke-R was touring the world, it boasted a 3.8-liter V-6 with a pair of turbochargers strapped to it – AKA a Nissan GT-R engine. Unlike the 2011 GT-R->ke1592 version of the V-6, which pumped out 530 horsepower, the original Juke-R’s V-6 engine was detuned to “only” pump out 480 horsepower. This still made the Juke-R a screamer, getting it to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds.

With Nissan knowing that its butt was on the line with this release, it actually gave the Juke-R a healthy bump in power and even changed up its styling a little bit, giving us all a little shock in the process.

Click past the jump to read all about the changed made to the production-model Juke-R #001.

2013 Nissan Juke-R #001

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Nissan Juke-R #001
  • Engine/Motor: V6
  • Horsepower: 545 @ 6400
  • Torque: 463 @ 3200
  • Transmission: 6-Speed Automated Manual
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

On the outside, Nissan changed just a few details to help separate the Juke-R #001 from the concept and all of the amateur mockups that are roaming the streets by now. The lower part of the front fascia has been slightly revised, eliminating the closed circular opening and giving it a single opening with a squiggled upper and lower edge. It’s almost as if Nissan simply connected the five holes on the original fascia.

The rear fascia also received an almost unnoticeable revision, as it is slightly flatter than the concept model. Without the two models being right next to each other, the only way you can tell the difference is that the concept model’s exhaust tips were slightly recessed, whereas the Juke-R’s tips stick out slightly.

Short of those two changes and the white paintjob draped over #001, we cannot tell it apart from the Juke-R concept and that’s not a bad thing!

Interior

As anticipated, the Juke-R has been stripped of its rear seats and various other creature comforts, but for good reason. In the place of the rear seats and anything else that was back there is an FIA-spec roll cage, making this beast ready for the track.

Also as expected, you will get the Nisan GT-R driver interface – steering wheel and gauges – a pair of racing seats with “Juke-R” stitched in the headrest, racing harnesses and loads of carbon fiber trim. To the right of the gear shifter is the all-important “Juke-R #001” stamping, so everyone knows that this Dubai buyer got the first production model – if it ever leaves his garage.

Engine and Drivetrain

As we already know, the Juke-R boasts the 3.8-liter V-6 engine and AWD drivetrain from it sibling, the GT-R. However, the Juke-R #001 received a significant boost under the hood. This boost was the fact that Nissan took its head out of its backside and threw the full-power 2013 GT-R engine into the Juke-R, netting it 545 horsepower – a massive 65-horsepower jump over the concept model.

The Juke-R tosses these 545 ponies through the GT-R’s 6-speed automated manual transmission and to all four wheels, via the GT-R’s AWD system.

This bad-ass setup gives the Juke-R #001 a 0-to-100 km/h (0-to-62 mph) time of 3 seconds, bettering the concept model by a full 0.6 seconds. In fact, that time beats out its donor 2013 GT-R by 0.1 seconds, which is likely due to the fact that the Juke is nearly 1,000 lbs lighter than the GT-R in its base format and likely 300 to 500 lbs lighter after the addition of the GT-R’s drivetrain. Nissan also claims a 170 mph top speed, which we can only assume is drag limited.

To say the Juke-R is totally stupid-ridiculous would be an understatement.

Engine and Drivetrain Specs:

Engine

Twin Turbocharged , DOHC, 3.8-Liter V-6

Engine Output

545 horsepower at 6,400 rpm 463 pound-feet of torque at 3,200 rpm}}

Transmission

6-Speed Automated Manual

Drive Style

All-Wheel Drive

Acceleration (0-to-100km/h)

3 seconds

Top Speed

170 mph


Price and Availability

Well, as they say in a fine restaurant, “If you have to ask, it’s too much for you.” The Juke-R runs an astronomical £400,000 ($650,000 at the current exchange rates) in its base format. Production will also be very limited, with this particular model heading to a buyer in Dubai.

Competition

You want competition, eh? You’re not going to find it. Considering the massive entrance fee and its 3-second sprint to 60 mph, you’re hard pressed to find anything close. But for humor’s sake, we’ll toss in the newly re-released Porsche Cayenne Turbo S as an overmatched rival.

The Cayenne Turbo S actually beats out the Juke-R in total horsepower, as its 4.8-liter V-8 engine pumps 550 ponies to all four wheels. It also boasts a functional rear seat, it’s readily available in stores and its £107.460 entrance fee seems a bargain compared to the Juke-R. Buuut – of course there’s a “but” – the Cayenne Turbo S is not setup to race straight out of the box and the Cayenne’s massive 4,883-pound curb weight rears up to bite the Porsche in the ass. This bite knocks the Cayenne Turbo S down to a snail-like 4.5-second sprint to 100 km/h – relatively speaking, of course. In top speed, however, the Cayenne comes out on top, 175 mph to 170 mph.

Then again, if you are considering dropping £400,000 on the Juke-R, you would likely use the Cayenne Turbo S as your “beater car.”

Conclusion

One word sums up our feelings here: “Awesome!” Thanks for making us believers, Nissan!