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Videos 27 Sep, 2013

Mercedes-Benz incorporates chickens into its latest advertising campaign

China's Dongfeng Motor said it is "far" from making any decision on investing in PSA/Peugeot-Citroen after being contacted by investment banks.

Despite slow car sales across Europe, Mazda defied the downwards trend with volume up 31% in July and August compared with the same period last year.

Ford Sollers, Ford's Russia joint venture, plans to create a new research and development center in the country to adapt Ford vehicles for the local market.

Ford Sollers, Ford's Russia joint venture, plans to create a new research and development center in the country to adapt Ford vehicles for the local market, the company said.

This Sunday, the city of Newport, R.I., will host its

The Lambrecht Chevrolet auction begins bright and early tomorrow, and we'll be covering this historic sale from beginning to end.

Ford spotlighted an improved 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbodiesel as it introduced its 2015

The Qoros 3 compact is the first China-built car to receive a five-star rating under EuroNCAP safety standards. European sales of the sedan began in Slovakia this month.

Nissan expects to double sales of its Note subcompact after giving the model a sleeker design and high-end safety technologies normally seen only in larger, more expensive premium cars.

Mercedes will build a convertible version of its new S-class coupe concept previewed at the Frankfurt auto show.

Panasonic said it will work with jazz record label Blue Note Records to develop custom-branded audio systems and content for the global automotive market.

Daimler has reached an agreement with a consortium of banks for a 9 billion euro ($12 billion) credit line for the next five years.

Subaru engineers worked for nearly 20 years to ready EyeSight, a package of cameras and software that scans the road ahead for danger.

With help from TRW Automotive's driver and passenger airbag modules, buckle pretensioners and retractor rack and pinion, the new BMW 3 series achieved a top score of five stars from crash testing agency EuroNCAP.

Ford has bought a small software company in a bid to beef up its in-car connectivity offerings and win over younger and more affluent customers.

Demand for the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport is so strong that Land Rover is struggling to fill orders.

Mitsubishi says its new Mirage small car will fill a niche in the United States auto market for consumers looking for basic, efficient transportation at an affordable price. It's not promising much more than that.

That was no ordinary Juke waiting for me in the parking lot at Auto123. When I took possession of the fun little toy that is the high-performance 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO, I wondered: Who is it for?

With unique styling and size, the Juke NISMO looks like a cross between a hatchback and a small SUV. In my opinion, buying this vehicle is a prime example of one's emotions throwing virtually all reason out the window.


What is the Nissan Juke NISMO?
Sporty and turbocharged, the 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO was tuned by the Japanese automaker's performance division, namely NISsan MOtorsports. Over 100 characteristics were improved, from exterior and interior design to power and handling.

Beyond that, it's still the same funky crossover that desperately wants to catch everyone's attention and make a statement only Nissan can.

Sporty and turbocharged, the 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO was tuned by the Japanese automaker's performance division, namely NISsan MOtorsports. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

2013 Nissan Juke NISMO Prices and Specs
The regular model boasts a 1.6L, 4-cylinder, turbocharged engine that produces 188 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO adds 9 hp and 7 lb-ft, yet averages 10L/100km (on my watch). You can have either front-wheel drive with a 6-speed manual transmission, or all-wheel drive with a CVT.

Exclusive to the 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO are 18” aluminum wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, and revised steering for quicker response. The available AWD system includes torque vectoring to further boost handling and safety in all conditions.

My tester had a base price of $24,998. However, with the CVT and AWD, the final tally was $28,478 before tax and other charges.

The regular model boasts a 1.6L, 4-cylinder, turbocharged engine that produces 188 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO adds 9 hp and 7 lb-ft. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Driving the 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO
Despite the promise of extra performance, don't expect the 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO to achieve the same level of handling and excitement as genuine NISMO cars; driving dynamics are much closer to those of a compact SUV.

Unsurprisingly, the CVT proves fairly noisy. On the other hand, the brakes do a great job of cooling off the 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO, visibility is good, and the sport seats are fantastic at keeping your body in check.

Despite the promise of extra performance, don't expect the 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO to achieve the same level of handling and excitement as genuine NISMO cars. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Inside and Out of the 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO
This vehicle is as polarizing as it gets when talking about exterior design; either you absolutely love it or you think it's the ugliest thing around. No matter which side of the fence you're on, you must give credit to the 2013 Nissan Juke for being bold, and damn proud of it.

As for the NISMO edition, the various add-ons produce a recipe that's even harder to digest: the distinctive grille, red mirror caps, thin red stripe along the lower sides panels... there's a whole lot going on! One thing's for sure: The LED-accented headlights make the 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO look more modern and sophisticated.

Inside, more passenger room would have been appreciated, especially in the back. The cargo area is also quite small. On the flip side, the front bucket seats are accommodating and comfortable. The 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO further stands out with suede-trimmed seats and steering wheel with contrasting stitching, a red-coloured tachometer, as well as keyless entry with push-button start. There's no denying the sporty character of the interior.

Finally, the touchscreen-based multimedia system with satellite radio isn't the most user-friendly I've seen, in large part due to the small controls. Fortunately, Nissan's voice command system is good at understanding orders and complying with them -- and should serve as a lesson for many companies.

The 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO further stands out with suede-trimmed seats and steering wheel with contrasting stitching, a red-coloured tachometer as well as keyless entry with push-button start. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Comparing the 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO
Very few vehicles -- if any -- come close to matching the 2013 Nissan Juke's description. One could make a case for the new Subaru XV Crosstrek, which also offers all-wheel drive but slightly more cargo space. However, it's much less powerful and lively than the Juke, let alone the NISMO edition.

Potential Juke buyers may also want to consider hatchbacks such as the Suzuki SX4 and Toyota Matrix, although none of them will make heads turn quite as much as the Juke.

As the IndyCar Series is on the brink of making public its 2014 calendar, there is a lot of uncertainty regarding the Sao Paulo Indy 300 race as more and more rumors are stating that the Brazilian round won't be back next year.

Everything from a possible construction project interfering with the 2014 date to the race's Brazilian promoter (and TV broadcaster) Bandeirantes wanting to abandon the event to save money has been mentioned as reasons to explain the cancellation of the race.

According to a well-informed source, the IndyCar Series is working hard to resolve the Sao Paulo situation and it has become a high priority.

With the recent loss of the Baltimore street event, the IndyCar Series is understandably keen to prevent the cancellation of another event. Apparently, IndyCar is working on a second option in Brazil.

Start of the 2012 Brazilian race. (Photo: IndyCar)