Nissan showed another cutting-edge design at the New York International Auto Show. The Juke sports cross has a bold design inside and out, drawing on a number of active lifestyle influences including motorcycles and rally cars.

Juke brings unexpected levels of performance from a 180-hp, 1.6-liter Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG?) turbo engine and an advanced torque vectoring all-wheel drive (AWD) system with performance technology usually reserved for premium vehicles.

?Juke is about to carve out a unique space in the rapidly growing compact crossover/hatchback segment with its combination of striking design, agile handling and driving pleasure and user friendly technology,? said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, NNA. ?Add in the convenience, versatility and high seating positioning of a traditional compact SUV ? and pricing that is expected to start at just under $20,000 ? and you?ve got a vehicle unlike any other in its class.?

The Juke interior offers bolstered front seats and a center console inspired by a motorcycle fuel tank and finished in a two-coat high-gloss paint. The gearshift sits on top of the console, with a short shifter lever for sporty driving. In the rear, a fold-down 60/40-split bench seat and flat load floor provide passenger and cargo hauling flexibility.

Available features range from leather-appointed seats and RearView Monitor to Nissan Intelligent Key? with Push Button Ignition, navigation system with real-time traffic information and power sliding moonroof. A long list of standard safety features is also available, including six air bags, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC).

Another new-to-Nissan technology debuting on Juke is the innovative Integrated Control (I-CON) system. The I-CON system functions in one setting as a controller for the automatic climate control system, and in the other offers a drive mode selector with three different throttle/transmission (CVT)/steering response settings ? Normal for everyday driving, Sport for a more intense performance feel and Eco for maximum efficiency.

I-CON also serves as a central command center and display module, adopting different display colors and functions depending on how it is being used. In Climate mode, the display shows the interior temperature settings while the ?buttons? display airflow preferences. In the ?D-Mode,? the buttons change to the three driving modes and the display shows engine and drive related dials and information.