Nissan Juke-R: What happens when a GT-R and a crossover get too cozy

Shoehorning a twin-turbo V6 from a Nissan GT-R into the little Juke crossover--that's the type of craziness we've come to expect to show up at the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas.

But Nissan's not waiting for SEMA. Its European tech center has performed the powertrain transplant, with the help of race team Ray Mallock Ltd., to create the Juke-R.

Actually, it's creating two Juke-Rs (and only two), one left-hand drive and one right-hand drive.

Now, the Juke is no slouch with its standard 188-hp, 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. But the 3.8-liter V6 pumps out 485 hp in the GT-R. Nissan has not said what the power rating is of the Juke-R, but we expect it will be in the same neighborhood as the GT-R. Sorry, no performance specs yet, either.

Ray Mallock Ltd. also mounted the GT-R's six-speed transaxle in the Juke-R. And the GT-R's gauge setup, including the reconfigurable center screen, was transplanted. The package is complete with a pair of racing seats, a fully exposed roll cage and 20-inch Rays forged alloy wheels.

Nissan wants to draw attention to the success of the Juke in Europe, where more than 100,000 were sold in its first year on the market. In the United States, Nissan has sold nearly 27,500 Jukes since the crossover went on sale early this year.

SEMA surely would have no problem finding space for the Juke-R.

By Dale Jewett