Nissan Juke R To Make Debut Public Appearance In January 2012

The Nissan Juke R has been hogging the media limelight for months, appearing in official photos and a Nissan-released video showing it tackling the Silverstone track—but never in the public. However, that may soon change as the road-legal super-crossover will be serving as a pace car at the 2012 Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai endurance race, to be held at the Dubai Autodrome from January 12-14.

The Juke R has the goods to back up its over-the-top looks if you are wondering. Mating a sedate crossover body to the mighty 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6—not the full 550 horses, just 486 of them—of the GT-R sports car has produced one of the most outrageous car projects ever seen, much in the mould of the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet—which is on a limited production run in spite of its audacity, so perhaps the green light could be given for the Juke R too?

Nissan insists that the road-legal Juke R remains a one-off concept car which will only be built in two examples, one in left-hand-drive and another in right-hand-drive. And indeed Nissan has gone the full length with the Juke R, which borrows more than the GT-R's powertrain. The exterior bits—the matte black paint finish, large 20" Rays alloys, flared wheel arches, full body kit, massive air intake vents, rear diffuser and rear wing—are modeled after the GT-R's. The interior is a strict two-seater with racing seats, five-point harnesses and a race-spec roll cage. The steering wheel, pedals, gauges and dials are imported from the GT-R as well. Enjoy the Nissan Juke R's lap on Silverstone below!