With the build complete, engineers were checking that all systems work correctly before heading to Silverstone to push the car’s limits on a proper track. It looks like a Juke but sounds like a GT-R, and judging by the way it lifts its skirts and explodes towards the horizon it performs a lot like a GT-R – albeit with noticeably more body roll.

The shakedown and testing programme will allow the engineers to fine-tune the Juke-R chassis, as well as check the workmanship of the joint RML/Nissan Europe engineering team prior to registering both cars (one LHD and the other RHD) for use on the public road.

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And yet like most temptations, I suspect that ‘once’ would never be enough, in fact strap me into this beast and you’d have a hard time prising me out again – however I’m really not a fan of its looks, hence the reason I’d feel obliged to stay inside..

These are the first videos which capture the sound of the Juke-R’s 480 bhp 3.8-litre engine as the beast springs to life. Dubbed the world’s fastest crossover, Juke-R is a one-off concept car that combines the power, speed and handling of Nissan’s flagship GT-R sports car with the odd design of the Juke crossover model.

As you can see from the images, Nissan see the Juke-R as ‘a bit of an animal’, rebellious, tempestuous even, but also a whole heap of fun. And then some.

From its matt black finish to its extended wheel arches and 20″ RAYS forged alloy wheels, there can be little doubt this is a car to provoke supercars and serve up a healthy dose of embarrassment at the track.

Large, provocative vents in the front bumper provide cooling for the Juke-R’s twin turbo V6 engine, while subtle submerged ducts in the bonnet help draw air through the engine bay.

At the rear of the car a dynamic split wing provides this super-crossover with downforce, while twin pentagonal exhausts emit an amplified version of the GT-R’s evocative engine note.

Inside, the Juke’s motorcycle-inspired console is at the centre of a modified interior cabin fitted out to go racing complete with twin race seats, full race harness and a race-spec roll cage. GT-R steering wheel, pedals, dials and 7-inch touch-screen display are built into a modified version of Juke’s dashboard.

As you will already be aware, the Juke-R is unfortunately not a production car but instead a special, road legal concept car. Two versions of the Juke-R are being created – one in left-hand-drive and one in right-hand-drive and Nissan will be testing customer response to ‘some’ of the concept car’s features for use in a future sports version of the Juke road car.

Alas, no matter how loudly we shout, the engine is unlikely ever to reach the options list of a production car – but then I’m sure some enterprising folk will study the 5 preceding build-story videos and come up with something similar.

The Juke-R will go into testing in late November before it’s unleashed to appear at PR events and speed festivals across Europe in 2012.

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And whilst Nissan’s Juke-R appears to push all of those buttons, I can’t help wondering what’s the point? Of course you could say the same thing about a Porsche Cayenne Turbo or BMW X6 M..

Nissan revealed the new Juke-R to an unsuspecting audience at yesterday’s Qashqai media launch in Malaga, Spain, which marks its first public appearance. Harnessing the power of the company’s flagship GT-R in the oddly designed Juke, Nissan hail their new showpiece as the ultimate compact crossover.

Whilst it would be easy to laugh at such a pointless vehicle, we understand the Juke-R is being used as a testbed for development of a more sporty Juke, likely to offer a little over 200 bhp.

Nevertheless, the Juke-R is already a marketing success. Videos charting the design and build of Nissan’s super-crossover have clocked up over 1 million views on YouTube during the past 3 weeks, along with thousands of conversation threads on blogs, forums and social networks.

Just two versions of the Nissan Juke-R are being created, one in each of left-hand and right-hand drive. The cars have been developed by Nissan and are being built by leading motorsports outfit RML with input from Nissan Technology Centre for Europe (NTC-E). Testing of the car will begin in November.

Unperturbed by such trivial economic circumstances, the folks at RML and Nissan Technical Centre for Europe (NTC-E) just couldn’t resist answering the question, “What do you get when you cross a Nissan Juke with a Nissan GT-R?” So the one-off concept will now be built to test the public’s reaction to a seriously sporty Juke.

But do they ‘really’ need to ask our opinion on a niche version of a car which already polarises opinion? I’m already loving it, and yet hating myself for doing so..

Under the bonnet is a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 engine adopted directly from Nissan’s flagship supercar. Under the boot floor hides the GT-R’s six-speed transaxle, with the front and rear ends joined by a modified GT-R 4WD driveline and prop shaft, while chunky 20-inch RAYS forged alloy rims fill each wheel arch.

The Juke-R is no stealth machine – the addition of flared wheel arches, revised front and rear bumpers plus a unique split rear wing making its intent clear for all to see.

Inside the Juke’s dashboard has been transformed to accommodate the gauges, dials and 7-inch customisable LCD display from the GT-R. The Juke’s iconic centre console, inspired by the fuel tank of a motorcycle, remains while the rest of the interior has the look of a machine bred for the track.

Only two Juke-Rs will be created, one in left-hand-drive and one in right-hand-drive, which are expected to complete first tests in November.

Twin race-seats with five-point harnesses sit inside a visible roll cage that provides FIA safety standards of protection as well as enhanced torsional stiffness for a chassis that was designed for less than half the power.

“Nissan Juke is one of the most exciting cars on the market today. Its bold crossover design has captured the imagination of car buyers all over Europe; after just a year on sale we are celebrating sales of more than 100,000 units,” said Paul Willcox, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Nissan in Europe.

“Juke lends itself perfectly to a sports derivative and Juke-R explores that territory. Equally at home on road and track, Juke-R showcases two of the most exciting cars in our range and highlights the technical innovation that drives Nissan. This car will more than live up to the dynamic driving experience we engineer into all our cars.”

You can follow progress of the Juke-R, by visiting Nissan’s Juke Facebook page, where you can also vent your appreciation (or frustration) of the project.

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Maybe it will grow on us? Maybe we need to see it out on the road?

Well Aston have chosen to release a new batch of pictures to help gauge customer feedback whilst they decide on the next steps to take.

The project is currently on hold, but we understand that Aston Martin Chairman David Richards was not entirely happy with the concept either and has asked Aston’s design team to create another Lagonda concept, which will be showcased at a future motor show.

Aston had originally planned to relaunch the Lagonda brand by 2012, so there’s still time to get it right.

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again…”