Next-generation Nissan Juke set for 2018 launch, says report

The Nissan Juke might not be everyone’s idea of a stylish crossover, but it’s hard to argue with the sales success the Nissan has enjoyed worldwide since it went into production in 2010.

It’s no exaggeration to say it’s been a huge success story for the Japanese auto giant, but the supermini-SUV segment has moved on, and the competition has upped its game. It’s therefore time for an all-new Nissan Juke, and it sounds as though one will be with us later this year.

According to what Auto Express in the United Kingdom is referring to as “well-placed sources,” the next-generation Nissan Juke is imminent and will probably appear this year with an entirely new platform, more environmentally friendly engines, a hybrid version, and significantly upgraded technology.

This should allow the Juke to compete seriously with the slew of new subcompact crossovers that have been arriving in the market since the original Juke was launched. These include the likes of the Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur, Jeep Renegade and Kia Soul, and even premium models such as the Audi Q2.

It remains to be seen how far the designers go with the exterior, but what’s been done in the United States to models such as the Murano and the Rogue suggest a more conservative approach to the styling isn’t out of the question, even for a vehicle as renowned for its unique looks as the Juke. According to Auto Express, Shiro Nakamura, Nissan’s chief creative officer has revealed the next generation will still be “edgy and less mainstream,” but he insisted it will still be recognisable as a Juke.

A new Juke will make the switch to the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s Common Module Family CMF-B platform, which the all-new Nissan Micra also uses now. The change to the new platform is a big deal because the current platform is now regarded as slow and expensive to produce, especially compared with the modern standards of its rivals.

The new platform will also open up a new range of engine possibilities, including 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo petrols that are now so popular. But a 1.5-liter diesel will still be offered for the time being, alongside a 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol engine that’s likely to be the top-of-the-range powerplant with somewhere in the region of 190 bhp.The magazine’s sources have also suggested a hybrid variant is a possibility, perhaps using a range-extender powertrain that has already appeared under the hood of the sporty Gripz concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2016. JB

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