Four years have passed since Nissan blew our minds with the amazingly awesome Juke-R Concept. As if the idea of cramming the running gear of a 2012 GT-R under the quirky body of the Nissan Juke wasn’t good enough, though, Nissan’s engineering and motorsports teams are at it again. Meet the Nissan Juke-R 2.0. Equipped with the latest performance of both the GT-R NISMO and the updated styling of the 2015 Juke, the Nissan Juke-R 2.0 continues to be the world’s only crossover supercar.

The Nissan Juke-R 2.0 will be unveiled this weekend at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed, and like the first Juke-R, this concept will not be a static display. When it isn’t lounging around at the Goodwood Supercar Paddock, the Juke-R 2.0 will be making hill climb runs with Nissan Le Mans 24 Hours driver Jann Mardenborough behind the wheel.

Continue reading to learn more about the Nissan Juke-R 2.0 Concept.

2016 Nissan Juke-R 2.0 Concept

Specifications
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  • Model: 2016 Nissan Juke-R 2.0 Concept
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Pros
Cons

Exterior

Like we’ve seen from the GT-R, the styling evolution from Juke-R to Juke-R 2.0 was subtle... or as subtle as a matte-black, wide-body Nissan Juke can be anyway. For starters, the Juke-R 2.0 gets all of the same styling changes as the updated 2015 Juke including the grille, headlights and taillights, but the Nissan styling team also managed to inject some added GT-R cues into the new Juke-R with a new front fascia that is more aggressive and more functional (Nissan says the openings are twice the size of the previous Juke-R allowing for more air flow and cooling to the engine and turbos). Most of the Juke’s body carries over, but added pieces such as the rear fascia, fender extensions, side sills and rear winglets are all constructed from carbon fiber.

Interior

Note: 2011 Nissan Juke-R interior shown.

With the exception of a new black headliner, the interior of the Juke-R carries over untouched to Juke-R 2.0. This means that Juke’s standard interior has pretty much been gutted in favor of a full roll cage and a pair of racing seats with harnesses, while the highlight of the cabin is the fact that the GT-R’s telematics system has been seamlessly integrated into the Juke’s center stack.

Drivetrain

Note: Nissan GT-R V-6 engine shown.

Having already made room under hood and body for the GT-R’s engine and all-wheel-drive system, upgrading to the newer and more powerful GT-R NISMO powertrain must have a relatively simple task. Using the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-6 from the 2012 GT-R meant that the original Juke-R packed quite a punch with 545 horsepower at its disposal, but the new Juke-R 2.0 brings even more power to the table with the GT-R NIMSO’s 600-horsepower output.

A dual-clutch, six-speed transmission channels the power to all four wheels, and thanks to its stubby dimensions the Juke-R NISMO may be able to come close to replicating the GT-R's set-back engine position for better balance. The previous Juke-R managed a 3.7-second 0-60 mph run; with even more power and an updated drivetrain, the Juke-R NISMO could shave even more time off of that. Because hey, if you're going to go insane, why go only halfway?

The visibly widened track hints that the Juke-R NISMO is once again riding on oversized 21-inch wheels and the GT-R's track.

Conclusion

Just like the GT-R, which continues to push the limits in terms of power and performance, the Nissan Juke-R 2.0 shows that Nissan is serious about staying ahead of the pack… even in a segment when there is no real direct competitor. Although the Goodwood Festival of Speed hill climb features some of the best performance and race cars from around the globe stretching all eras of the automotive industry, the Juke-R 2.0 should be one of the most exciting vehicles to watch take on the famed 1.16-mile course.