In 1971, the legendary 240Z that took the victory of the gruelling East African Safari Rally was driven by Edgar Herrmann with navigator Hans Schüller. Indeed, the rally was a resounding success for the brand, with the 240Zs coming home in second and seventh positions. Furthermore, the victory represented the brand's second consecutive victory in the rally. The low-slung 240Z was powered by a 2.4 litre straight six cylinder engine, producing 210PS, with power sent to the rear wheels. The victorious car was restored to good order in 2013 and is part of Nissan's heritage collection which is housed in Zama, close to Nissan global headquarters.
Initially, the Tribute Concept started as a sketch, showing what a JUKE would look like if it were to take inspiration from the iconic 240Z that won the East Africa Rally 50 years ago. After so much fanfare, Nissan decided to make it the real deal, with a variety of modifications to make it rally-ready!
The JUKE naturally lends itself to a design of this nature, given it has short front and rear overhangs, a robust stance and exception agility which means that in theory, it could be perfect off-road. Meanwhile, the new JUKE Hybrid’s powertrain guarantees smooth and seamless performance, with an electric motor to support the combustion engine. 
The modifications on the Tribute Concept are very evident, starting with the enlarged wheel arches, to accommodate the specially made off-road tyres, which help to give the JUKE a more imposing appearance on the road. Not only this, but the addition of the lights on the bonnet and roof help to clarify the Tribute Concepts credentials as a competitive offroader. The Juke Rally Tribute Concept mirrors a number of the design elements of the 240Z it pays tribute to, with its black roof and bonnet referencing the past, with the modern Hybrid powertrain bringing it firmly into the future!
Inside, there is also a number of modifications, including the tubular roll cage, to help stiffen the bodyshell and offer protection in case of a high speed incident in the challenging environments you’d expect to find the Tribute concept driving through, such as the desert. There is also no rear seats, as these have been removed to provide space for all the equipment you would expect a rally car to need, such as spare wheels and fire extinguishers. 
The base for this concept, the new JUKE Hybrid comes with state-of-the-art Nissan internal combustion engine specifically developed for working in a hybrid powertrain application. This is coupled with an electric motor which helps to produce 143hp, whilst delivering 40% less fuel consumption than the standard JUKE.
Sadly this concept won’t be making it’s way to our showroom anytime soon, but we expect to see the new JUKE Hybrid with us shortly, why not follow us on Facebook for more updates!
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