Nissan Primera
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Nissan Primera | |
 |
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| Also called: | Infiniti G20 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Nissan |
| Production: | 1990—2007 |
| Predecessor: | Nissan Stanza, Nissan Bluebird |
| Class: | Large family car |
| Body style: | 4-door sedan 5-door liftback 5-door station wagon |
| Similar: | Honda Accord Opel Vectra Toyota Avensis Volkswagen Passat |
The Nissan Primera is a large family car produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan for the domestic and European markets.
Contents |
[edit] Nissan Primera P10 (Mk I Phase 1 and 2, 1990—1996)
Since 1988, Nissan had been building Bluebirds—it was essentially a rebadged home-market Auster/Stanza – for the European market at its factory in Sunderland, England. While that car was well-built and reliable, it was still very obviously Japanese, and lacked the all-round competency—particularly flair needed in the large family car class.
In the autumn of 1990, Nissan replaced the UK Bluebird with the Primera. It had a conventional front-wheel drive chassis and five-speed manual gearbox, with some versions getting the option of a four-speed automatic. Power came from 1.6-litre carburettor and 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre injection petrol engines; a 2.0-litre diesel followed from 1992 onwards. The 1.8-litre version was never sold in Europe. Bodystyles were four- and five-door saloons and five-door estate (the last of which was imported from Japan). Equipment levels were also good.
What set the Primera apart from its predecessors is that Nissan has deliberately targeted this car at the European market. The result is a car constantly lauded for its ride and handling and replaced the Peugeot 405 as class leader in this respect. The Primera sees Nissan's multi-link front suspension applied to front-wheel drive for the first time. The 2.0-litre petrol engine received a power upgrade in 1992 which gave the then eZX, (later renamed the eGT) 150bhp from the standard 123bhp 2.0-litre engine and a top speed of around 137 mph.
In the early 1990s, Ford were so impressed by the Primera, they used it as one of the class benchmarks whilst it was developing the original Mondeo - and the similarities in terms of styling as well as dynamics between the two cars is obvious.
Some five-door UK Primeras were exported back to Japan.
There is a station wagon version, called the Nissan Avenir in Japan and New Zealand. However, this is really a separate model because it doesn't share the Primera's platform: the Avenir uses struts up front and 5-link axle in the rear. Its model code is W10.
In the United States, the Japanese-built version of the Primera was rebadged as the G20, and marketed by Nissan from 1990 through 1996 under its then new luxury Infiniti brand. This version sold well in the Canadian market.
[edit] Trim levels
The Primera range came in four trim levels at launch; LS, LSX, GS and ZX. The LS and LSX models were available with a 1.6-litre engine, whilst the GS and ZX models had a 2.0-litre 123 bhp engine.
From 1992 onwards, the range was facelifted and new L, LX, SLX, SGX and eGT trim levels replaced the original naming scheme. A 2.0-litre diesel version was available from 1992. L cars were basic, and had the 1.6-litre petrol or 2.0 diesel engines only. LX was slightly plusher, and had the same engines as the L version.
SLX was the mid-range model, but this had a choice of 1.6 and 2.0 petrol, or 2.0 diesel engines.
The SGX trim level was the luxury specification version; this had just the 2.0-litre 123bhp engine only. The eGT was the sporting version, with a 2.0-litre 150 bhp engine.
From 1994, the range received another facelift, and the trim levels were (almost the same); although Equation replaced the basic L as the entry-level trim; like its predecessor, it had a 1.6 petrol engine, but there was no diesel option.
SE replaced SGX, and this was about £2,000 more than the model it replaced.
A new "hot hatch" version, the SRi joined the line-up from 1995, and this had a choice of 1.6- or 2.0-litre petrol engines.
European versions were similar with their trim level schemes; in Japan the range was more complicated.
[edit] Nissan Primera P11 (Mk II Phase 3, 1996–2000)
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See also Infiniti G20
The second-generation Nissan Primera was launched in the autumn of 1996. It is still regarded as one of the best driver's car in the large-medium sector.
Unique in its class, new Primera featured multi-link beam rear suspension with multi-link front suspension. This gave Primera GT a best-in-class lateral grip figure of 0.94g, which is higher than many no compromise sports cars.
The interiors were unimaginative but solid and comfortable, keeping in tradition with Nissan's high levels of build quality. Mechanical reliability also proved to be excellent.
As before, the Primera was sold with 1.6 L and 2.0 L petrol engines and a 2.0 L diesel, with hatchback, saloon and estate bodystyles. A 1.8 petrol was offered in Japan and Australasia. While the estate was now based on the Primera's platform, it was assigned a model code of W11.
Alongside the original Primera, the Nissan Primera Camino was launched as a badge-engineered model for different dealer networks. The Japanese models also introduced a CVT automatic transmission during the P11 series, including a six speed tiptronic version in the M6 wagon.
Nissan continued selling the Primera in the United States as a BMW 3 Series rival. The Infiniti G20 was an upmarket compact sedan, using the same grille and rear lamp alterations from the Primera Camino.
In 1998 Nissan New Zealand released a limited edition Primera SMX with association with Steve Millen (Stillen Sports Parts). Features include cross drilled brakes, eibach springs and a more aggressive body kit. There were a total of 24 made in 4 colour choices.
In the autumn of 1999, Nissan gave the Primera a facelift, giving it a more modern, front end with projector, clear style headlamps instead of the traditional fresnel lens type, they also improved the specification levels with the entry level models such as the "S" featuring automatic climate control, driver, passenger and side airbags. Further up the model range, other features were seen such as Xenon headlamps - a feature at the time only seen on prestige cars such as BMWs and Mercedes-Benz models. The new name for this model was "P11-144", or in enthusiast circles, a "144". A new "lean burn" 1.8 L petrol engine, the QG18DE was added to the range, and the 2.0 SR20DE petrol could now be had with 6-speed sequential semi automatic CVT transmission in the style of a racing car—this was called the M6. Essentially, though, the Primera scored high on excellent levels of build quality and reliability, driver enjoyment and excellent handling for a car in this class. OBD-II was also introduced along with a 32-bit ECU.
This facelift was not generally applied outside Europe, with Nissan "formalized" the fronts of other Primeras and Caminos instead, bringing them into line with the look of the American Infiniti model, which was different from the rest of the range.
The Primera won the British Touring Car Championship manufacturers and team titles thanks to RML in 1998 and, in 1999 wiped the floor with a clean sweep of manufacturer and team titles plus first and second place in the championship with Laurent Aïello and Anthony Reid at the wheel of the factory-sponsored team. Privateer Matt Neal with backing from the factory took the Independents Cup in 1999 and 2000. To celebrate the two victories in 1998, Nissan UK released a limited edition of 400 'GTSE' Models, with 16" AZEV alloy wheels, two-tone 'flip' ChromaFlair "Mystic" green paint, following the special theme to the interior which featured full leather seating with green piping seats, steering wheel and a Momo gearknob. To celebrate the 1999 "clean sweep" they released a limited edition 'GTLE' model with 16" multi-spoke Enkei alloy wheels, full leather interior with silver piping, Momo gearknob and a colour choice of flame red, kuro black, starburst silver or nordic blue.
[edit] Nissan Primera P12 (Mk III, 2001—present)
In January 2001 Nissan introduced the third-generation Nissan Primera, its first all-new car since the collaboration with Renault two years earlier. The new Primera is more radically styled than previous versions, but maintains the hallmarks of comfortable ride, solid build, and faultless reliability, even though its handling is now tuned more for comfort. No Infiniti equivalent was released; the Skyline-based Infiniti G35 replaced it in the United States.
New Zealand Primeras are all equipped with continuously variable transmission; there is no manual option. The CVT is also available in the European 2.0 L and the Japanese 2.0/2.5 L (an engine not available in Europe).
The Primera is the first production car with a rear view camera.
[edit] Nissan Primera P12 (Mk III SSS, 2001—present)
The 2.0 L 6 Speed Manual Nissan Primera 20V
has Nissan's SR20VE Neo VVL engine
with Variable Valve Lift and Timing.
It produces 150kW (204PS) of power at 7200rpm
and 206N·m (21.0kgm) of torque at 5200rpm.
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: |
- Official British site
- Nissan Primera Owners Club
- New Zealand Primera Car Club
- Nissan Primera 20V (Japan)
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