Nissan to build Juke EV in UK
Nissan, the Japanese automaker, is gearing up to launch a new generation of its popular Juke crossover, which will be electric-only and built in the UK. The company aims to make the electric Juke as affordable as the current gasoline model, which starts from around $28,000. But how will Nissan achieve this ambitious goal, and what will the electric Juke offer customers? Here are some of the key points to know about this upcoming model.
Nissan’s Electric Strategy
Nissan has been one of the pioneers of electric vehicles, with its Leaf model being the world’s best-selling EV until 2020. The company has also invested heavily in battery technology and charging infrastructure and is developing its own electric platform, CMF-EV, which it shared with its alliance partner Renault.
The CMF-EV platform accommodates vehicles of different sizes and shapes, from compact crossovers to large SUVs. It also allows for various battery capacities, power outputs, and front-wheel or all-wheel drive configurations. Nissan plans to use this platform for three future models built in its Sunderland plant in the UK: the electric Juke, the electric Qashqai, and the successor of the Leaf.
The Nissan Juke EV will be the smallest and most affordable of these models, targeting the growing segment of urban crossovers that appeal to young and trendy buyers. Nissan expects the electric Juke to have a similar market share as the current gasoline model, which accounts for about 10% of the company’s sales in Europe.
The Hyper Punk Concept
The Nissan Juke EV will be heavily influenced by the Hyper Punk concept, which Nissan unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2023. The concept is a bold and futuristic vision of a compact crossover that blends virtual and physical features and is tailored for content creators, influencers, artists, and those who embrace style and innovation.
The Hyper Punk concept has a multifaceted and polygonal exterior, with a distinctive front grille that features a digital display and a camera. The concept also has 23-inch wheels, LED lights, and a two-tone paint scheme. The interior is a “creator’s space,” with a three-screen cockpit that shows manga-style patterns generated by artificial intelligence from the camera footage. The concept also has advanced features such as headrest biosensors, mood detection, and music and lighting customization.
Nissan says that the Hyper Punk concept is not just a design exercise but a preview of the future direction of its electric vehicles. The company also says the idea showcases its E-4ORCE system, a sophisticated electric all-wheel drive technology that enhances EVs' performance, handling, and stability.
The Nissan Juke EV Features
While the Nissan Juke EV will not be as radical as the Hyper Punk concept, it will still have some of its elements, such as the polygonal shape, the digital grille, and the two-tone color. The electric Juke will also have a sleek and aerodynamic profile, a coupe-like roofline, and a spacious cabin. The electric Juke will be slightly larger than the current model, using the CMF-EV platform designed for bigger vehicles.
The electric Juke will offer different battery and power options, depending on the market and customer preferences. The base model will likely have a 40 kWh battery and a front-wheel drive motor, delivering about 150 horsepower and 200 miles of range. The higher-end model will have a 60 kWh battery and an all-wheel drive system, delivering about 250 horsepower and 300 miles of range. The electric Juke will also support fast charging, allowing it to replenish 80% of its battery in less than an hour.
The Nissan Juke EV will also have various advanced features and technologies, such as a digital dashboard, a touchscreen infotainment system, wireless connectivity, smartphone integration, voice and gesture control, and a head-up display. The electric Juke will also have a suite of safety and driver assistance systems, such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and parking assist.
The Nissan Juke EV Price and Availability
One of the main challenges that Nissan faces with the electric Juke is to make it as affordable as the gasoline model, which starts from around $28,000. The company admits this is a difficult task, as electric vehicles tend to be more expensive than their conventional counterparts due to the higher cost of batteries and other components.
However, Nissan is confident that it can achieve this goal by leveraging its economies of scale, EV production experience, battery technology, and government incentives. The company also expects the cost of batteries to decline over time and the cost of ownership of EVs, which have lower maintenance and fuel expenses.
Nissan has not yet announced the exact price and availability of the electric Juke, but it is expected to launch in the second half of the decade 2027. The electric Juke will be built in Nissan’s Sunderland plant, along with the electric Qashqai and the Nissan Leaf successor, as part of the company's $1.6 billion investment to electrify its UK-built models. The electric Juke will be sold in Europe and other markets, but it is unclear if it will be available in the US, where it was discontinued in 2018.
Conclusion
The Nissan Juke EV is one of Nissan's most anticipated models, as it represents the company’s vision of a stylish, innovative, and affordable electric crossover. The electric Juke will be based on the Hyper Punk concept, which showcases Nissan’s design and technology prowess. The electric Juke will also use the CMF-EV platform, which allows for different battery and power options, and the E-4ORCE system, which enhances the performance and handling of EVs. The electric Juke will also have various advanced features and technologies, such as a digital grille, a three-screen cockpit, and a safety and driver assistance system suite.
Nissan aims to make the electric Juke as affordable as the gasoline model, which starts from around $28,000. The company plans to achieve this by leveraging its economies of scale, EV production experience, battery technology, and government incentives. The company also expects the cost of batteries and ownership of EVs to decline over time.
The electric Juke is expected to launch in the second half of the decade 2027. The electric Juke will be built in Nissan’s Sunderland plant, along with the electric Qashqai and the Leaf successor, as part of the company's $1.6 billion investment to electrify its UK-built models. The electric Juke will be sold in Europe and other markets, but it is unclear if it will be available in the US, where it was discontinued in 2018.