The opportunity Nissan missed with the new Juke NISMO

The 2013 Chicago Auto Show brought few surprises, but a number of notables did materialize. Ford and Ken Block showcased a racy Focus, Volkswagen offered a Beetle that was a little yellow in the gills, Toyota unveiled their latest Tundra, while Chrysler bared its new fat-lipped commercial van. Then there was Nissan who unclothed a refreshed 370Z NISMO as well as a sporty NISMO version of the quirky Juke. The latter, I believe, has the potential of being brilliant, but has Nissan missed the mark?

Sensible people find the Juke too weird. Its slick back headlights, bulbous front end, fat backside, and massive flared arches are never going to appeal to a mass market. Its funky looks make it somewhat of a niche vehicle

But with the announced NISMO version, Nissan could have found the Juke’s rightful home. A more aggressive, sporty appearance plays nicely with the machine’s wacky costume. The exterior offers more bite, while the interior boast Alcantara upholstering, bolstered seats and a red dash at the top of the steering wheel to make you feel like a fully-fledged World Rally driver. The engine produces more power; an all-wheel drive version is available as well as a 6-speed manual.

Suddenly the Juke seems to make sense. As we said yesterday, this barmy looking machine has all the ingredients to become a raucous animal, suggesting a much-needed alternative to the WRX and EVO. I, for one, love the Juke NISMO’s look. While I may be in the minority in this department, I have also been lusting over a WRX as of late. I was even on the phone to my wife yesterday when strolling through the Nissan stand at the Chicago Auto Show, and gushed about how I needed to buy the Juke NISMO. I genuinely thought I had found my car.

But there’s a problem.