DETROIT -- Nissan will grow its crossover U.S. lineup this September with the addition of the Juke, officials said.
The Juke is one of eight product launches the Japanese automaker has planned for the United States in the next 12 months.
The Juke, which goes on sales in Europe in October, will be smaller than the Rogue, currently Nissan's smallest crossover in the United States.
The Juke will ride on Nissan's small-car platform. For Europe, it will be built in the U.K. and will fit into Nissan's range between the Note compact family car and the Qashqai compact crossover.
The Juke will be built alongside the Qashqai, Qashqai+2 and Note at Nissan's factory in Sunderland, northeast England.
Production replaces that of the Micra small car, which is being transferred to India.
The Juke's styling will closely resemble the Qazana concept shown at the 2009 Geneva motor show. Nissan plans to release more details on the Juke in February, ahead of its debut at the Geneva show in March.
"We are doing so well with the Rogue that there is no reason to think we won't do better with the additional of a smaller crossover," said Carlos Tavares, chairman of Nissan Americas, during a meeting with journalists at the Detroit auto show.
Tavares said it is important to show that Nissan has continued to spend on new products even though the economic downturn has caused a large drop in auto sales.
The other vehicles in Nissan's 2010 launch plans are:
-- The redesigned Infiniti M sedan, launching in the spring.
-- A 40th-anniversary edition of the Nissan Z car.
-- The Nissan NV2500 light commercial vehicle, launching in November.
-- The Nissan Leaf electric car, launching in December.
-- A redesigned Infiniti QX56 SUV, based on the redesigned Nissan Patrol SUV, launching in the summer.
-- A derivative of an Infiniti product, with a new powertrain, in the fall.
-- The redesigned Nissan Quest minivan, which goes on sale in January 2011.
