With all eyes firmly focused Stateside Nissan has pulled something of a fast one by launching a new special edition of its compact crossover, the Juke, at the Brussels Motor Show.
Dubbed the Juke Shiro, it has been designed to complement the Juke Kuro that was unveiled late last year, but something appears to have been lost in translation. While Kuro is the Japanese for black and the resulting car was a completely blacked out model, Shiro means white and yet the new special edition is painted in a striking shade called Nightshade, which to our eyes looks a deep shade of purple...
Apparently the Shiro name relates to a few flashes of white on the interior of the car that includes the motorcycle inspired centre console, stitching on the leather wrapped steering wheel and the seats.
Naming oddities aside, the Juke Shiro is very well equipped, with a list of features that includes Nissan Connect, a colour reversing camera, Intelligent Key with engine start button, heated front seats, climate control, automatic wipers and lights, folding door mirrors and rear privacy glass, plus ESP, six airbags, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist.
Buyers will be free to choose from three engines: a 108bhp 1.5-litre dCi, an 115bhp 1.6-litre petrol and the 187bhp turbocharged DIG-T 1.6 petrol unit. All are front-wheel drive and are coupled to either a five- or six-speed manual transmission depending on the engine.
Pricing and availability for the UK has yet to be announced.
Paul Healy - 11 Jan 2012