Toyota Recalls 10,000 Lexus Cars

TOYOTA has recalled almost 10,000 Lexus vehicles across the UK to fix faulty fuel delivery pipes.

The car manufacturer said the problem caused a risk of fuel leaks and is part of a worldwide recall of 759,000 vehicles.

Some 9,637 UK-registered Lexus cars are affected, which were manufactured between January 2005 and September 2010.

Drivers may be alerted to the problem by the smell of fuel while driving or when leaving their car, Toyota said. There have been no reports of any accidents or injuries relating to the problem, the company added.

The models affected are IS 250, IS 250 C, IS F, GS 300, GS 460, GS 450h, LS 600h, LS 600hL and LS 460.

Vehicle owners will be contacted by Lexus in the coming weeks and asked to make an appointment to bring their car to their nearest Lexus Centre, Toyota said.

The work will take about three to four hours to complete and will be carried out free of charge.

Customers can check whether their vehicle is affected by visiting http://www.lexus.co.uk

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The Secret of a Successful Business is Innovation

The secret of a successful business has been simple in the recent past years, i.e. innovation. Innovative ideas have become such a significant element in the recipe of a successful business that it was never before. There are people that get impressed by the business of any other person and try to copy it. It’s definitely do not work for them as their expertise and skills are not suitable for that particular trade and some other aspects goes against them. People seem to adopt the same business strategy as his/friend or foe carrying out and look for success.

This sort of approach is totally stupid and there are hardly any chances of getting success. It is better that you think of your own and look for something different as per your talent. If you are carrying somebody else’s idea, you might find immediate boost, but, after some time, you be will be left clueless of what to do next. Circumstances for each business differ from other, hence, same approach cannot be opted for two different business entities. This is where originality comes handy and your own expertise plays a significant role in your success.

Original and innovative ideas do not only help you make money, it will help you grow and will take the world in a new direction. But, in today’s fast moving and full of thug world, keeping an original idea is difficult as it can easily be stolen remotely. That is why, you need to Copy Protect your ideas that are stored digitally in your computer or portable drives. You need to careful and should not trust anyone around you, creative ideas are simply scarce and everyone in the business world is in search of them. If you have not secured them diligently, you might lose your idea and someone else will make the most out of it.

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Inhabitat’s Week in Green: self-driving tractors,

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week’s most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us — it’s the Week in Green.

With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, it’s time to start thinking about holiday decorations. London’s Southbank Centre recently gave new meaning to the phrase “green energy” by unveiling a Christmas tree powered entirely by Brussels sprouts. And in Austria, a family claimed their second Guinness World Record by stringing over half a million LED Christmas lights across their property. In other tech news, Recchi Engineering and Carlo Ratti Associati won a competition to design Holland’s 17,000-square-foot pavilion for the 2015 World Expo in Milan. The pavilion’s green roof will be tended by a pair of self-driving tractors. Manuel Dominguez dreamed up a design for a futuristic mobile metropolis that can actually move to different locations in search of resources. And in Bogotá, a crowdfunding campaign has been launched for what could be Colombia’s tallest skyscraper.

Solar power makes a lot of sense as an alternative to kerosene in sub-Saharan Africa, but photovoltaic panels are too expensive for many families to buy outright. To deal with that problem, Azuri Technologies has come up with pay-as-you-go solar kits that provide safer and cheaper solar energy to those who need it most. And in Haiti, Enèji Pwòp recently launched a program that enables Haitian immigrants to send solar lights to loved ones. In other green energy news, the French company Alstom recently completed the world’s largest offshore wind turbine off the coast of Belgium, and CellEra has developed a new platinum-free fuel cell that doesn’t require rare-earth metals — it might just be the cleanest engine ever created.

In green transportation news, an incredible all-electric sports bike is set to be unveiled this December at the Clean and Cool Missions in Colorado. The wood-frame Sandwichbike, which can be assembled like a piece of IKEA furniture, is set to begin shipping in December. The bike’s beech plywood frame “sandwiches” the wheels, and it’s locked in place using hand-milled aluminum cylinders. And Ford just announced that its Interceptor police sedan is the most fuel-efficient law enforcement car sold in the US.

When the world’s first 3D-printed gun was produced and tested, it showed how far digital fabrication had come — but it also raised some serious questions about gun control. Now, Philadelphia has become the first city to ban the production of firearms made by 3D printers. In other green tech and innovation news, the London Science Museum just unveiled the U-CAT, an adorable turtle-shaped robot designed to explore underwater wrecks. Dutch designer Lieske Schreuder recently discovered that snail poo could be formed into a variety of useful materials. Goldee officially launched a $100,000 crowdfunding campaign for the world’s smartest light switch. And the modular building company NRB created the Pedia-Pod, a prefab unit that is designed to make kids forget they’re in the hospital.

 

New Cars for 2014: BMW

BMW focuses on fuel efficiency in its 2014 lineup, as the company debuts an all-new i3 subcompact electric car, plug-in hybrid i8 sports car, and new 3 Series and 5 Series diesel-powered powertrains. A 2014 4 Series model joins the lineup, as well.

In addition to its new 328d diesel-powered variant, the 2014 BMW 3 Series arrives with an upgraded iDrive system and more standard features–though it is now only available in sedan form. The 5 Series sports a new diesel engine plus updated styling and a more powerful V-8 engine for the 550i, while the 2014 6 Series offers a more widely available all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, limited-edition models, and an updated navigation system. For the top-of-the-line 7 Series sedan, BMW has added a customizable digital instrument panel, foot-activated power trunk lid, and the latest version of iDrive.

Fans of the high-performance M3 will be disappointed to learn that BMW has discontinued that model, though the M5 returns with updated styling, upgraded powertrain and chassis, and a new Competition package. The latter is also available on the 2014 BMW M6, as are the retuned engine and underpinnings, manual gearbox, and new ceramic brakes.

BMW’s crossovers have undergone a number of changes for 2014, too, including more standard features for the X1 and X3. The X5 has been redesigned and now boasts freshened styling, rear seats that are more comfortable and easier to access, the choice of rear-wheel-drive (RWD) or AWD capability, and an 8-speed automatic transmission. A universal garage door opener is now standard on the 2014 BMW X6.

The 1 Series, M3, and X5 M have been eliminated from the BMW portfolio and will not be returning for 2014.

2014 BMW 3 Series

BMW’s popular 3 Series model returns for 2014 in sedan, wagon, and gran turismo (GT) body styles. Coupes and convertibles are no longer part of the 3 Series lineup as they have transitioned to the new 4 Series nomenclature (detailed below).

Differentiating the 2014 3 Series from its predecessor is an updated iDrive infotainment system featuring a new controller and touch-pad functionality. BMW has also added 328d sedan and wagon variants equipped with a turbocharged, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder diesel engine that produces 180 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft. of torque. The EPA claims drivers can expect to average up to 45 mpg on the highway with this engine. Gas-powered 4- and 6-cylinder engines are also offered, as is a hybrid powertrain.

What’s New:

• 328d diesel-powered model
• Upgraded iDrive infotainment system
• Added standard features
• Coupe and convertible transition to 4 Series
• Modern Line option package no longer available

2014 BMW 4 Series

All-new for 2014, the BMW 4 Series coupe is available with RWD or AWD capability and seating for 4 occupants. Buyers have the choice of 428i versions fitted with a turbocharged, 240-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, or 435i models equipped with a turbocharged, 6-cylinder engine that delivers 300 horsepower and 300 lb.-ft. of torque. According to BMW, the 2014 4 Series can reach 60 mph in just 5 seconds.

What’s New:

• All-new 4-passenger coupe
• RWD or AWD
• Choice of 4- or 6-cylinder engine

2014 BMW 5 Series

Like the smaller 3 Series, the 2014 BMW 5 Series debuts with a diesel-powered variant. The 2014 535d features a turbocharged, 3.0-liter, inline 6-cylinder diesel engine that delivers 255 horsepower and 413 lb.-ft. of torque, and EPA-rated fuel economy of 26/38/30 mpg (city/highway/combined).

While the 535d is only available in sedan form, BMW does also offer the 5 Series in the 4-door hatchback GT body style. All 2014 models sport updated styling, an updated infotainment system that includes a new controller and touch-pad functionality, and options such as LED headlights.

In addition to the 535d, buyers have the choice of RWD or AWD 528i, 535i, and 550i trim levels. According to BMW, the 550i utilizes a V-8 engine that has been updated to provide more power and efficiency.

A hybrid version of the 5 Series is also available. EPA fuel-economy ratings for that model are 23/30/26 mpg.

What’s New:

• 535d diesel-powered model
• Updated styling
• Optional adaptive LED headlights
• Luxury Line and Modern Line option packages
• Updated infotainment system
• More powerful available V-8 engine

2014 BMW 6 Series

The 2014 BMW 6 Series continues to be available in 2-door coupe, 4-door gran coupe, and 2-door soft-top convertible body styles. Base 640i models feature a standard RWD configuration, though they can now be upgraded with optional AWD. As was the case previously, 650i variants are offered in RWD or AWD form.

Other updates for 2014 include a revised navigation system, new Active Driving Assistant safety package with lane-departure and forward-collision warning systems, and an M Sport Edition package comprised of heated and cooled multi-contour front seats, active high-beam headlights, customizable digital gauge cluster, head-up display, and more.

The 2014 model year also marks the debut of the Frozen Brilliant White Edition 6 Series convertible. Availability in the United States is limited to 100 cars, all of which feature matte-finish paint, unique 20-inch alloy wheels, black exterior trim, and a host of additional standard amenities.

What’s New:

• M Sport Edition package
• Revised equipment packages
• AWD optional on base 640i models
• Frozen Brilliant White Edition convertible
• Updated navigation system

2014 BMW 7 Series

While lacking the comprehensive updates in features of the 5 Series, the 2014 7 Series flagship sedan does arrive with some notable changes, including the revised iDrive system, customizable digital instrument panel, and a power trunk lid that can be activated by simply swiping your foot under the bumper. BMW also includes a new safety package that includes a forward-collision warning system in the 2014 7 Series.

Trim levels include regular- and long-wheelbase versions of the 740i and 750i, and the ActiveHybrid 7. AWD capability is optional on select models.

What’s New:

• Updated infotainment system
• Customizable digital instrument panel
• Foot-activated power trunk lid
• Added option packages
• Updated paint colors and interior trim

2014 BMW i3

All-new for 2014, the 4-passenger BMW i3 is an electric subcompact car that the company claims can reach 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, has an operating range of 80-100 miles, and can be fully charged in only 30 minutes using a DC fast charging unit. Drivers who opt to amp up their i3 at home using a 220-volt outlet face about 3 hours of down time.

Power for the 2014 i3 comes from a 170-horsepower electric motor supported by a Lithium-ion battery pack. A “range-extender” option adds a 2-cylinder gas engine to keep the battery charged to a minimum level for longer distances.

What’s New:

• All-new subcompact electric model
• 4-passenger seating capacity
• Fully rechargeable in as little as 30 minutes
• BMW-estimated range of up to 100 miles
• BMW-estimated 0-60 mph time of 7.2 seconds

2014 BMW i8

Also all-new for 2014, the i8 plug-in hybrid is a 4-passenger AWD sports car that, according to BMW, can hit a top speed of 155 mph or, when driven in a more moderate fashion, can travel up to 22 miles on nothing but electric power.

At the heart of the 2014 i8 is a turbocharged, 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine joined by a Lithium-ion battery pack, electric motor, and two automatic transmissions–a 6-speed used for delivering power to the rear wheels and a 2-speed that transfers output to the front wheels. Net ratings are 362 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque.

What’s New:

• All-new plug-in hybrid model
• 4-passenger seating capacity
• BMW-estimated electric-only range of 22 miles
• BMW-estimated 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds and top speed of 155 mph
• AWD

2014 BMW M5

Based on the updated 5 Series, the 2014 BMW M5 sport sedan features revised styling, the latest version of iDrive, and options like LED headlights. There’s also a new Competition package boasting an aggressively tuned sport exhaust system, mechanical steering engineered to be feel more responsive, unique 20-inch alloy wheels, upgraded suspension, and an extra 15 horsepower from the turbocharged, 4.4-liter V-8 engine.

What’s New:

• Updated styling
• Available LED headlights
• Updated infotainment system
• Redesigned cupholders
• Competition package

2014 BMW M6

Similar to the M5, the 2014 BMW M6 arrives with a new Competition package that ups the performance ante with more power, upgraded chassis, retuned exhaust, and special 20-inch alloy wheels. BMW claims the combination of upgrades cuts the M6’s 0-60 mph time by 0.1 seconds.

The company is also broadening the M6 portfolio by complementing the current coupe with a new gran coupe body style. Unlike the carried-over 2-door, this new 4-door variant is equipped with standard 4-zone climate control, black chrome trim, carbon-fiber rear diffuser, and floor mats with contrast stitching. All M6s will now be offered with a 6-speed manual transmission or 7-speed automated manual gearbox, and high-performance ceramic brakes.

What’s New:

• Competition package
• Gran Coupe body style
• Optional manual transmission and ceramic brakes
• Updated equipment package content

2014 BMW X1

BMW’s smallest crossover model greets the 2014 model year with upgrades including a standard telematics system and minor package updates. Buyers have the choice of RWDor AWD X3s equipped with either a turbocharged 4- or 6-cylinder engine.

What’s New:

• Standard telematics system
• Updated equipment packages

2014 BMW X3

Very little differentiates the AWD 2014 BMW X3 from the 2013 model, with updates limited to a new iDrive infotainment system and the addition of standard auto-dimming rearview mirrors, a telematics system, 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, and a universal garage door opener. Trim levels include the X3 xDrive28i and the X3 xDrive35i.

What’s New:

• Updated infotainment system
• Added standard features, such as auto-dimming rearview mirrors and a telematics system

2014 BMW X5

Redesigned for 2014, the BMW X5 crossover offers freshened styling, a choice of RWD or AWD capability, 40/20/40 split-folding second-row seat and improved access to the available third-row seat, and a start/stop assist system engineered to provide better fuel economy.

BMW offers the 2014 X5 in sDrive35i and xDrive35i trim levels. A diesel-powered xDrive35d model is also part of the lineup, as is an xDrive50i variant equipped with a V-8 engine that now boasts 445 horsepower (up from 400 in 2013).

What’s New:

• Redesigned for 2014
• RWD or AWD
• Gas and diesel engine options, including a new V-8
• 8-speed automatic transmission
• Start/stop assist system
• Improved rear seating

2014 BMW X6

Aside from a newly standard universal garage door opener, no changes have been made to the 2014 BMW X6. Buyers have the choice of 300-horsepower X6 xDrive35i, 400-horsepower X6 xDrive50i, and 555-horsepower X6 M models.

What’s New:

• Standard universal garage door opener

2014 BMW Z4

BMW has made no changes to the 2-passenger Z4 for 2014. This RWD roadster continues to feature a retractable hardtop and is available in three trim levels: 240-horsepower sDrive28i, 300-horsepower sDrive35i, and the 335-horsepower sDrive335is.

What’s New:

• No changes for the 2014 model year

 

Tesla Hires former Segway, Apple Hardware Engineering lead to Develop new Cars

 

So what’s next for Tesla? Company founder and CEO Elon Musk has publicly stated his desire to make a more affordable EV plus cars that (mostly) drive themselves, and new hire Doug Field is in position to lead that charge. Joining Tesla as the Vice President of Vehicle Programs, he will be “responsible for driving development of new vehicles.” We’ll have to wait and see what those new Teslas look like, but his resume immediately shows why Musk is interested in someone with his experience. Field began his career as an engineer at Ford and later served as the CTO of Segway before moving over to Apple in 2008, where he’s been the VP of Mac Hardware Engineering leading development on the Macbook Air, Macbook Pro and iMac.

TESLA HIRES APPLE VP DOUG FIELD TO LEAD VEHICLE PROGRAMS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013
PALO ALTO, Calif.– Tesla Motors has hired Doug Field to be its Vice President of Vehicle Programs, responsible for driving development of new vehicles. Doug is an accomplished leader and engineer of innovative, high-technology products, most recently serving as Vice President of Mac Hardware Engineering at Apple. Doug led the development of many new products at Apple including the latest MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iMac. Doug began his career as an engineer at Ford Motor Company.

“Doug has demonstrated the leadership and technical talent to develop and deliver outstanding products, including what are widely considered the best computers in the world,” said Elon Musk, Tesla co-founder and CEO. “Tesla’s future depends on engineers who can create the most innovative, technologically advanced vehicles in the world. Doug’s experience in both consumer electronics and traditional automotive makes him an important addition to our leadership team.”

“Until Tesla came along, I had never seriously considered leaving Apple,” said Field. “I started my career with the goal of creating incredible cars, but ultimately left the auto industry in search of fast-paced, exciting engineering challenges elsewhere. As the first high tech auto company in modern history, Tesla is at last an opportunity for me and many others to pursue the dream of building the best cars in the world-while being part of one of the most innovative companies in Silicon Valley.”

Doug has a Masters in Mechanical Engineering and Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a BS in Mechanical Engineering with highest distinction from Purdue.

ABOUT TESLA:

Tesla Motors’ (NASDAQ: TSLA) goal is to accelerate the world’s transition to electric mobility with a full range of increasingly affordable electric cars. California-based Tesla designs and manufactures EVs, as well as EV powertrain components for industry partners. Tesla has delivered over 15,000 electric vehicles to customers in 31 countries.

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Thousands travel to Nebraska for Lambrecht Chevy auction

A handful of barely driven vintage Chevrolets fetched more than half a million dollars on Saturday at an auction that drew thousands of car buffs from around the world to a small northeast Nebraska town.

Bidders and gawkers crowded shoulder-to-shoulder for the auction in a muddy field just west of Pierce, a town of about 1,800. Spectators in helicopters and airplanes circled overhead as the lead auctioneer, Yvette VanDerBrink, inched down the auction line on a wooden platform hauled by a pickup.

Event organizers said an estimated 10,000 people traveled from as far as Norway and Brazil to see the sale in person, and more than 3,800 had registered online to bid at an auction website by mid-day Saturday.

The auction of more than 500 old cars and pickups was expected to continue on Sunday. Organizers said they hadn’t yet totaled the bids for the roughly 50 most high-profile, low-mileage classic cars and trucks, which were auctioned on Saturday. As of midday, six of the most valuable models had sold for a combined $545,000.

The collection belonged to Ray Lambrecht and his wife, Mildred, who ran a Chevroletdealership in downtown Pierce for five decades before retiring in 1996. Unlike most dealers, Ray Lambrecht stashed many of his unsold cars in a warehouse, at his farm and other spots around town if they didn’t sell in the first year.

The first vehicle sold — a sky-blue, 1958 Chevy Cameo pickup driven 1.3 miles — secured the largest bid at $140,000. Another bidder spent $97,500 on a red and white 1963 Impala with 11.4 miles on its odometer, the manufacturer’s plastic on the seat and a yellow typewritten window sticker displaying its original price: $3,254.70.

Lyle Buckhouse, a retired farmer from Hankerson, N.D., poked his head Saturday into a 1963 Chevy Corvair with 17.2 miles on the odometer. Moments later, the self-proclaimed “Corvair guy” was hunting eagerly for the bidder-registration tent.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Buckhouse said. “That’s why I came down here. You just don’t know what you’re going to see.”

Bob Esler, the owner of Bob’s Garage in Westfield, Ind., bought a four-door 1964 Bel Air station wagon for $30,000. The car had 326 miles.

“This is one of the cars that I had my eyes on,” Esler said, as he leaned against his new purchase. “I want to use it to haul all of my customers around.”

“How are you getting it back home?” a friend asked.

Esler shrugged. “I haven’t figured that out yet,” he said.

Preparations for the two-day auction began in June. VanDerBrink, the auctioneer, said she took calls from as far as Iceland, Singapore and Brazil before the event.

The two least-driven cars, a 1959 Bel Air and a 1960 Corvair Monza, have one mile on their odometer. The oldest vehicle with fewer than 20 miles dates to 1958; the newest is a 1980 Monza with nine miles.

Some bidders used the auction to hunt for rare parts for their collector cars and trucks, while others came to watch the spectacle.

“What drew us here as much as anything was the story,” said Ernie Turcotte, who drove with his son, Jeff, from central Massachusetts to look for fenders and running boards for his 1955 Ford F-100. “I don’t understand how it even happened. But here they are.”

Ray Lambrecht opened the downtown dealership with his uncle in 1946, on the corner of Main Street and Nebraska Highway 13. The U.S. Army veteran quickly established himself as an unusual salesman: He gave his lowest price up front, without negotiation, and encouraged hagglers to try to find a better deal elsewhere.

In 1954, he drove then-Gov. Robert Crosby down Main Street in a parade celebrating the 100-year anniversary of Nebraska as a territory.

The most valuable vehicles were stored for decades at a nearby warehouse, until a heavy snow collapsed the roof. Some were damaged, but many were saved and moved elsewhere. The models at the dealership were among the best preserved, even as the building gave way to bats and holes in the roof.

Ray and his wife, Mildred, retired in 1996. Ray, 95, and Mildred, 92, still live in Pierce, but their health has declined. They decided to sell the collection so others could enjoy the cars and pickups, said their daughter, Jeannie Stillwell, who lives in Florida.

Brabus’ 700-hp SUV sports six terrorizing wheels

The Mercedes G63 AMG ranks as a car for the clinically insane; while massively powerful, turning corners is like riding a wild bull on bath salts. Add six wheels and you have theG63 AMG 6×6, presumably designed for the suicidal. So what happens when you tune that deathtrap into a 700-hp monster capable of eating children?

It has to be electronically limited to 100 mph, of course.

 

German independent tuning shop Brabus is no stranger to whipping speedy Mercedes into animalistic missiles, but tweaking a six-wheeler? Well, that’s a new venture. Weighing around four tons, the Brabus B63S 700 6×6 as it’s known, needs all the propulsion it can muster; 0-62 mph, despite its barbaric 5.5-liter V-8, takes just over seven seconds.

While Mercedes’ 6×6 boasts 544-hp and 561 lb.-ft. of torque, the Brabus thumps 700 ponies and a whopping 708 lb.-ft. of torque, thanks to a pair of new turbochargers. The preordained 100 mph limit arrives because of instability due to its 37-inch tires.

How mad must this car be?

While the Brabus was revealed today in Frankfurt, pricing for said beast was not. But given Mercedes “tame” version costs close to $500,000, expect sticker shock to take a whole new meaning. Whatever the price, it sounds like an expensive way to croak. Sign me up.

Nissan Juke-R, a 570-hp Babyzilla: Motoramic Drives

Lilly is not pretty. Rather tall and ungainly, she towers over the other models Nissan brought to the high-performance track at the quadrennial “Nissan 360” worldwide media program, hosted this time at the Great Park of Orange County, Calif., formerly known as El Toro Marine Base.

But Lilly is an object of lust such that this writer, and many other car wags lucky enough to get near her, will never forget.

“Lilly,” is a Nissan Juke-R, the first one ever built, and one of only four in existence. We’re not really sure who asked the question that resulted in the creation of the Juke-R, but we’re relatively sure it started with “Gee, wouldn’t it be funny if we stuffed the rip-snortin’ twin-turbocharged V-6 engine and all-wheel drivetrain of our insanely fast GT-R supercar to the body and interior of the tiny Juke crossover?” Or perhaps it was one steely-eyed engineer looking across the table at another, saying, “I double dog dare you to turn a Juke into a GT-R.”

However the proposition was made, the outcome is exactly that: a Juke with the soul of a GT-R. When the Juke-R was first announced about two years ago, Nissan called it the “first super-crossover.” But just as the GT-R is nicknamed “Godzilla” by its cult-like fan base, the Juke-R soon became affectionately known as “Babyzilla.” And like Japan’s most famous lizard, the Juke-R is the stuff of legends.

Initially, Nissan and partner Ray Mallock Ltd. (RML) built just two Juke-Rs: “Lilly” and her brother, “Max,” as they are called by their handler, Xavi Cànovas (yes, these cars have their own handler, just like rock stars). Lilly was built using the GT-R’s turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6, which at the time made 485 hp and came mated to a dual-clutch manu-matic transmission and wide, GT-R-based all-wheel-drive underpinnings. The width of the running gear required a completely new floor and wide fender extensions to accommodate the 20-inch wheels and tires. A wild body kit was fitted and all was painted a wicked matte black. At some point, Lilly got a powertrain upgrade. “Rumor has it she’s at about 570 hp, but I don’t know that for sure,” said a Nissan spokesman.

Suffice it to say, Lilly is a badass.

Once word got out about how great the Juke-R turned out, Nissan cobbled together two more for a wealthy customer in the Middle East. Nissan determined that there was sufficient interest for a small production run, and plans to build 23 Juke-Rs in total at a price of $660,000 each.

So it’s rare. Even for automotive journalists, seeing a Juke-R in the flesh is the equivalent of seeing a unicorn, and being offered a chance to actually drive one is akin to grabbing that unicorn’s horn, hopping on and flying through a double rainbow. Yet there she was, sitting on a tarmac in the 90-degree California heat next to two stock GT-Rs, steaming and crackling, waiting for us to take a spin. A flurry of engineers inspected this and that, keeping her in shape between hot laps of the short road coarse Nissan set up on base. I would have one short lap to see what tricks Lilly had up her sleeve.

When my turn came, I strapped on my helmet and rushed out between the snarling GT-Rs toward Mr. Cànovas, standing by the open driver’s side door of the Juke. Ingress/egress is rather trickier in the Juke-R than the standard Juke, thanks to its heavily bolstered racing seat and full roll cage blocking some of the door opening (oh, and don’t even think about putting someone in back). Once I folded myself through the door and flopped into the seat, Cànovas adjusted my seat to ensure perfect pedal placement and telescoped the steering wheel to meet my arms. A brief scan of the interior revealed many parts I recognized from the standard Juke (dashboard, door panels, and other trim bits) and other parts that clearly came from the GT-R (sequential transmission shifter, GT-R instrument cluster, and grippy, contoured steering wheel). I shook the hand of the pro driver who would be my guide around the short road course as the four-point racing harness was clasped together at my midriff.

After that, things get a bit blurry, but here’s what I remember: I placed the sequential manual transmission in drive, gripped the wheel, stepped on the go-pedal and shot out of the pits toward the first turn. Immediately, I felt a visceral connection to the road such that I have never felt in a production car before. Indeed, Lilly may be based on two production cars, but as my confidence built over the next few turns, which were accompanied by absolutely zero body roll and spectacular steering feel, I began to connect with it in ways I have only experienced in a racecar. Acceleration is instant — the “shot out of a cannon” cliché is absolutely fitting here — and the deceleration, facilitated by massively powerful brakes, is just as sudden. I was even able to cajole the back end around a touch for a nice polite drift, just as would be possible in the incredible GT-R.

And then the lap was over. Suddenly, we were back in the pits and I was climbing back out through the roll cage bars, panting as I walked around for one more lustful look at Lilly’s decidedly unbeautiful face. The whole encounter lasted maybe a minute, but long enough to leave me awestruck of this wacky machine, and wondering how I could score a second date.