Nissan Juke R vs 2012 Nissan GT-R

To all intents and purposes the Nissan GT-R and the Juke R should be very similar cars to drive. They share the same engine, gearbox and a plethora of other parts. Other than its whacky looks the Juke R should behave in much the same way as Godzilla.

This is far from the case, and I’ll explain why. Warts and all.

I have previously talked about the huge respect that I have for the Nissan GT-R and the technological achievement that it represents. It flatters a driver like no other car I have ever driven, and for around £70,000 (depending on your local taxes) it is a world beater. Indeed, it makes a Porsche 911 TurboPorsche 911 Turbo SGermany, 2010 > present4 photos
feel old, with its excessive turbo lag and less advanced electronic aids.

I last drove a Nissan GT-R in October and it wasn’t this latest 2012 model. That one only had 530bhp, so it was positively slow in anyone’s book. For 2012 Nissan has pumped the power up to 550bhp, it makes me wonder how we ever got anywhere at all in 2007 when it only had 485bhp... The gearbox has also been tweaked, with smoothness and intuitiveness improved. This was one of my bugbears with the early cars, so I was pleasantly surprised.

I have long been of the school of thought that if you are going to have a double-clutch gearbox in a sports car, then it may as well be as smooth as possible. On the basis that pulling a paddle in a Nissan GT-R, or a Ferrari 458Ferrari 458 ItaliaItaly, 2009 > present676 photos
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for that matter, takes no more skill than my 13 year old cousin needs to press R1 on his playstation controller, what is the point in not making it perfect? It seems stupid to make them ‘pop’ artificially or not be completely seamless. If I want to concentrate on the skill of changing gear smoothly and quickly I will drive a manual car, or at least one with an automated manual gearbox. So, I was pleased with the latest iteration.

I put the car through two specific tests, the first being a slalom, and the second being a 0-60 dash. The slalom was very impressive, but took no skill on my part, in fact, I think the only way to spin a GT-R would be to carry so much speed into a corner that the laws of physics simply refuse to be ignored, as it is, the car simply bends them.

The second test was similarly impressive. You simply put the car in ‘auto’ and depress the brake pedal and throttle pedal simultaneously, then simply release the brake. It darts to 60mph in 3 seconds flat with metronomic consistency.

All this is great, if that floats your boat.

Nissan Juke-R Concept 2011 232 cu in 530.3 hp @ 6400 rpm 160 mph 3.7s

Nissan GT-R Premium Edition 2012 232 cu in 550 hp @ 6400 rpm 196 mph 2.8s

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However, it’s the Juke where it all gets a little bit giggle worthy and exciting. Despite weighing more than the GT-R, the Juke R feels immediately more alert. It only has the ‘old’ 485bhp engine and the less favoured gearbox, but the rest of the car is so much more fun. It is less competent than the GT-R, but this actually counts in its favour, which is properly appreciated when driven back-to-back.

The Juke R has a slightly softer set up, which, mixed in with a higher kerb weight and higher centre of gravity makes for a different driving experience. The shorter wheelbase also helps. This allows the driver to transfer the weight of the car, and alter its angle of attack mid-corner with surprising deftness. A mid corner lift tucks the nose in, and despite the four wheel drive system the ensuing slide is easily controlled and maintained for some time. Under braking the process is even more starkly achieved, with the rear end bobbing around in the most entertaining of manners.

The engine is less powerful, but has plenty of poke still, while the gearbox served to remind me why some more work needed doing to the GT-R in that department. But I guess we can’t have it all.

It also looks phenomenally aggressive in the metal. Painted in matt black and with a serious roll-cage inside the Juke R feels every bit the racer. Meanwhile, the body kit met with universal applause, although I can’t help thinking that it might look a little bit silly on a ‘normal’ Juke the R pulled it off with aplomb.

It is a pity that the Juke R will not be produced. There are only two in the world at the moment. One left hand drive car and one with the wheel on the right. It also cost half a million pounds to build, so there might be a limited market. However, it would be a cracking road car and I wonder whether they could sell a few at £250,000 if they chose to do a limited run?

Either way, it shows, yet again, that a car with character and a few flaws can knock the socks off more clinical machinery in the right circumstances. Viva la difference.