It was time for a change at the crankandpiston office. Many an evening after work has recently included the pulling of hair, rending of garments and sorrowful weeping as we fight over available car keys, such is the pull of our beloved ‘Rocco and Golf R. Our management fleet clearly needed some fresh blood.

First, we have the Nissan Juke. With the 480bhp fire-breathing Juke-R on pace car duties at this weekend’s Dubai 24 Hr, now seemed a perfect time to get Nissan’s mini-SUV in for a long-term test. The styling is distinctive certainly, but we’re quite keen on the enormous wheel-arches and shapely ‘tick’ of the rear lights. The Pearl Black’s gone down nicely too.

In the white corner (a management fleet constant), we have our new Toyota Yaris. Though it may not drink from the same bonkers water fountain as the Juke, Toyota’s flagship hatchback has certainly not been shy with the Botox. Gone is the predecessor’s cheeky button-nose expression in favour of a more aggressive “what you looking at?” demeanour. We like it. This could be interesting.

There’s a lot of road to cover this month at crankandpiston, so expect our first impressions on the new members of the family soon. >>>