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It would seem that trolling isn’t limited to annoying keyboard warriors and bored teenagers. Nissan, one of the companies that skipped this year’s motor show festivities in Frankfurt, released images earlier this week of its new Juke at a pop-up display in … Francfort.
Besides the obvious appearance of new Nissan metal, a move like this is fuels the stinging narrative that sprawling and expensive traditional auto shows are currying less and less favor with manufacturers.
According to the always helpful Google, the location of this display in the town of Charente-Maritime is about 660 miles from the actual Frankfurt, or nearly 1100 kilometers in Roman Catholic measures.
Nissan has a point, especially in a digital age in which almost every new reveal is leaked online via eagle-eyed photogs or right-place-right-time people wielding a smartphone. Nearly everyone has a camera in their pocket these days, not to mention the means to instantly distribute high-res photography, so gone is the age in which an auto show is the only place in which to see the newest and hottest debuts. Other marques to skip Frankfurt this year include the likes of Aston Martin, Toyota, and Volvo.
As for the Juke itself, this new roller skate with toenails for headlights is powered by a 1.0L turbocharged three-cylinder engine making about 115 horsepower. Buyers on the other side of the pond can equip it with either a six-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT. The company’s nifty ProPilot suite of safety nannies are also on board. However, shoppers in this country will have to get their Kicks from a different part of the Nissan lineup.
This stunt is markedly clever, reminding your author of the fake Prada store just north of Valentine, Texas. Technically an art installation, it appears to be a shop fit for Rodeo Drive emerging from the vast and empty Texas landscape. Your author finds this type of stuff fascinating.
What’s your take on it? Is it yet another nail in the coffin of modern auto shows? Sound off below.
[Images: Nissan, Wikimedia Commons]
That Prada store is a real hoot!
Without a doubt. That Prada store is literally miles from nowhere. I was southbound in the wilds of West Texas. The previous town was about 20 miles away and Marfa was likely another 20 more. Imagine my surprise when I passed a high-brow, Italian fashion store. I literally did a double-take. I had to turn around and get a photo of it!
Was it a Chinese Prada store?
I thought of that, too. Some real pranksters in Marfa.
I always liked Juke in Nismo form. The problem there really was the Recaro seat, which was a real pain to get in and out, even in test-sitting. This one looks great, in fact, good enough for me to skip the Nismo version. However, even if it was sold here, there is no way me going for 1L or even 5L, 3-cyl engine. I don’t think, in US it would make waves with 3cyl. In fact, where is it?
Mmm-hmm. My best friend’s ex-boyfriend had a NISMO Juke. Problem was that (much like my best friend) he was built like an football lineman. Those Recaro seats must have been insanely uncomfortable, because he traded it for a Colorado as soon as the current-generation model came out.
I am not a lineman. Problem with that seat was that it had these tall and hard bolsters. Once you’re in, you’re fine. But to get in or out – it is like jumping the fence every time
I tend to prefer the auto shows because you get to see ALL (or at least most) of the different makes and models in one place, giving you a chance to get an initial impression of the car’s looks and perceptible quality. Websites and photos don’t always do the vehicles justice simply because you have no true scale to visualizing how large or how small the vehicle may be.
Well done, Nissan marketing team. Way to do a lot with a little!
I don’t get this entire article. Wut?
That’s two of us.
The Kicks is still better, bigger, and better looking.
Auto shows are useful for evaluating ergonomics, something that photos cannot yet do.
Nissan treated ferdy the frog to a sandpapered-smooth makeover. Since I am of the jaundiced personal opinion that Nissans are crap, this one gets the big yawn from me.
Nissan tent is the last place on the Earth I would consider to attend. Even on auto shows I avoid Nissan section altogether. Have enough exposure to Nissan vehicles when I rent a car.