Nissan Juke Hybrid Rally Tribute Concept Looks Ready For Dakar

Remember the rally-prepped Nissan Juke concept from last year? Well, it seems that Nissan was quite serious about it, bringing it to the real world as a one-off tribute to the 240Z that won in the East African Rally back in 1971.

As hinted at by its name, the Juke Hybrid Rally Tribute is based on the new hybrid variant of the SUV that is set for a market launch in Europe this summer. However, it has received a number of visual modifications making it look like a proper rallycar. The wheel arches are cut to make room for the all-terrain Goodyear Wrangler tires measuring 265/70R16, with wider bold-on fender flares. There are also plastic add-ons on the front and rear bumpers with protective skid plates, larger foglights, additional lighting units mounted on the bonnet and an LED bar on the roof.

Other changes over the stock Juke include the roof rack, the omission of the rear windshield to make room for two full-size spare wheels, and the cool-looking dual exhaust pipes sticking out of the rear bumper. The special livery is inspired by the Nissan 240Z from the East African Rally with a black hood, a deep red shade and vintage sponsor decals all around the bodywork.

Inside, Nissan added a roll cage, a fire extinguisher, a pair of racing seats with four-point harnesses, a rear-bench delete, an Alcantara-upholstered steering wheel, a hydraulic handbrake and an intercom system with headphones for the driver and co-driver/navigator so they can safely communicate during races.

Despite the tough looks, the hybrid powertrain remains stock, so inevitably the Juke is slower than the original 240Z rally car from 1971 which was restored in 2013 and remains part of Nissan’s heritage collection. Thus, the naturally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine produces 93 hp (69 kW / 94 PS) and 148 Nm of torque, and the electric motor produces an extra 48 hp (36 kW / 49 hp) and 205 Nm (151.2 lb-ft) of torque. There is also a second electric motor working as an HSG (High-Voltage Starter Generator), a 1.2 kWh water-cooled battery, and a sophisticated multi-mode gearbox sending power to the front axle. The only change compared to the road-going Juke Hybrid is that the Rally Tribute consumes biofuels provided by Shell.

As you have probably guessed, the Nissan Juke Hybrid Rally Tribute is a one-off project not destined for production. Given the urban lifestyle nature of the SUV, we don’t expect any Juke Hybrid owners to get inspired by the concept for a DIY conversion, although an off-road prepped Juke would certainly look cool on a driveway. If only it came with AWD and a more potent powertrain.