Ever since Nissan first showed its outrageous Juke-R concept earlier this year – with a GT-R drivetrain stuffed into the diminutive Juke bodywork – enthusiasts have been salivating at the prospect of the performance it could provide.
But, in all probability, few if any really expected Nissan to put it in production. It's simply too extreme.
Wrong! The company has announced that a very limited number of Juke-Rs will be made available to buy on a build-to-order basis. If you have the clout and the cash.
The 3.8-litre, 260 km/h Juke-R made its global debut in Dubai in January, attracting enormous attention. As a result, Nissan received firm orders for three more cars to be built – two of those orders from a high-profile member of Dubai society, the company said.
Nissan says it will build more Juke-Rs upon request and will be taking orders in the coming four weeks, before production starts in earnest. The first three cars will be delivered to their new owners in late summer.
While the original Juke-R was based on the model-year 2010 GT-R running gear, the run of new cars will feature the drivetrain and chassis of the MY12 GT-R. That means about 585 hp. And projected 0-100 km/h acceleration in about 3.5 secons!
Nissan hasn't put a price on the Juke-R, but expect it to be commensurate with the means of its Dubai-resident first buyers.
It has also said nothing about safety and emissions certification, which it is unlikely to have, at least on this continent. So if any do find their way to our shores, it is unlikely they will be legal for public-road use.
But if you really want to impress your friends at track day, you can initiate an order by contacting Juke-R@Nissan.co.UK