Nissan's funky Juke was launched in New Zealand by Nissan Design Europe director Paul Garside, who says research shows that many SUV drivers want a high-riding, robust and practical body in a compact package and few need four-wheel-drive.
What Nissan wanted was a dynamic and eye-catching design that would energise the brand and it gave its London-based designers free reign. "The freedom our designers have is stimulating for them," Garside says.
"Working for Porsche as a designer must be like working with handcuffs on."
His team looked at athletes, watches and motorcycles among their influences and came up with an edgy hatch-SUV crossover concept which went into production almost unchanged.
He admits the design will polarise people, "but that's all right ... . we'd be happy to alienate 50 per cent, if 50 per cent of people love the car."
New Zealand will initially get the 2WD with an 86kW/158Nm 1.6-litre engine mated to a CVT auto driving the front wheels. Claimed economy is 6.3l/100km. There is a turbo but it may not come here.
