Nissan Juke Rally Tribute celebrates 240Z's 1971 East Africa Rally win

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its victory in the East Africa Rally with the 240Z, Nissan Europe rendered and showed photos of the Juke Rally Tribute Concept. 

Nissan said the Juke is a good base for a rally car, as the crossover has a raised stance and short front and rear overhangs. These qualities give the Juke agility and potential in off-roading. 

With beefed-up wheels arches to accommodate the tailor-made off-road tires, the Juke Rally Tribute's stance has been described as more imposing. The additional lights mounted on the hood and roof are also rally-stage ready, as are the two spare tires jutting out of the cargo hold.

As for its colors, the Juke Rally Tribute’s black hood and black wheels are a visual homage to the 1971 240Z that competed in the East African Rally, Nissan said. Another tribute is the Juke's livery that matches the 240Z's. 

Those black-painted pieces were also seen Gripz concept car from 2015, which influenced the design of the second-generation Juke introduced in 2019, Nissan illustrated. 

As part of Nissan’s goal to electrify its range, the Juke Rally Tribute Concept would be powered by an electric-hybrid powertrain, Nissan said. The power source is promised to deliver instant torque in all conditions, while doing so in an efficient manner. 

Meanwhile, the granddaddy 240Z was powered by a 2.4 liter straight six cylinder engine, producing 207hp and with power sent to the rear wheels.

Nissan said the rally veteran car was restored in 2013, and is now part of its heritage collection in Zama, close to Nissan global headquarters in the Kanagawa prefecture of Japan.

That 240Z was driven by Edgar Herrmann with navigator Hans Schüller in the East African Safari Rally, which they won in 1971. The 240Z finished second and seventh positions, Nissan said, with victory representing the brand’s second consecutive win in the rally series. 

The images of the Juke Rally Tribute Concept are released alongside the start of the Safari Rally Kenya, which returned to the World Rally Championship calendar after 19 years.

Aside from as celebrating Nissan's victory in Safari Rally Kenya, the Juke Rally Tribute "reflects Nissan’s pioneering history in crossovers, striking design and electrified powertrains," Nissan Europe Vice President for Brand and Customer Coralie Musy said. 

“Nissan is currently writing an exciting chapter of its history as we are in the middle of renewing our range of crossovers in Europe," she added. 

"The replacement of the first generation of the pioneering and iconic Juke was introduced in late 2019 and is proving extremely popular with customers. We have also just launched the third generation of the benchmark and newly electrified Qashqai in Europe, while the rugged X-Trail Crossover will follow next year,” Musy concluded. 

 Photos from Nissan Europe

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