Nissan Silvia
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The Silvia series of cars are one of Nissan's low-priced rear wheel drive (RWD), front mounted engine sports coupes on the Nissan S platform. Generally powered by an inline-4 engine, the S-series chassis underpins a number of different cars, each generation an evolution of the last. The Silvia is the original Japanese market version of the Nissan 240SX variant which was sold in North America from 1989 to 1998, so genuine Silvias are rare in North America.
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[edit] Early Silvias
Before the series of budget coupes, the Silvia name was first introduced in 1964. The CSP311 Silvia was a hand-built coupe based on the Fairlady convertible, styled with input from Albrecht Goertz. Production ceased in 1968 after a mere 554 were made, every one unique with hand-formed body panels. A majority of exports (49 cars) were sent to Australia. Most of the cars, however, remained in Japan. The Silvia name was to remain unused until 1974.
[edit] S Chassis
[edit] S10
The S10 was the first Silvia built on the S platform, and featured a sports-coupe shape, as was popular at the time — Unfortunately, it featured more traditional lines than rivals Celica, Capella and others, and was summarily less popular, even in Japan. It was available with many luxury features -- in Japan it was fitted with an L18B engine, as was fitted to the Datsun 610/Bluebird 180B. In America it was fitted with the same 2 litre variant, the L20B, as the 200B of the same series Bluebird. The car, as known in America as a 200SX, was unpopular, owing mostly to the federally-mandated "5 mph" bumpers ruining the intended lines of the car, and also, because America had yet to warm to the idea of a Japanese sports car. Its success in Japan was limited, most buyers opting for Celicas over the more humdrum Silvia.
[edit] S110
The S110 was the next in the chain. This Silvia was unusual because it was originally intended to feature a rotary engine, designed and built by Nissan. This engine however was fairly unreliable, and forestalled production. Ironically it shared a chassis code with the also ill-fated Mazda Cosmo, first Japanese production car to feature a rotary engine. This generation saw the debut of the "Gazelle" name, used for the luxury models of the S110. It was redesigned shortly after it was originally released, the rotary replaced by several piston engines for different markets, most based around the new Z-series engine, including the Z20, and the turbocharged and fuel injected Z18ET. It was not the most powerful though — the Silvia 240RS was a notchback S110 fitted with a 2.4 litre, DOHC, FJ24 engine, built between 1983 and 1985, past the end of production for the S110 itself. The 240RS was Nissan's official rally car in 1983-1985 World Rally Championship. The Silvia's best finish was 2nd, in the 1983 New Zealand Rally.
[edit] S12
The S12 platform was produced from late 1983 to early 1988. This new series saw the debut of the CA-series engine, as well as pop-up headlamps. US and Canadian models were still all known as "200SX" even though displacement varied from 1.8L (the CA18ET turbocharged engine, only available in the fastback body style, 1984-1986, -1988 in Canada), to 2.0L (the CA20E, available in all models and all years), and 3.0L (the VG30E V6, available only in the SE-V6 fastback in the US in 1987-1988). In Australia, Europe, and Japan, quite a few different engines were available. The CA20E was available in all of these areas throughout the entire production run. Both a coupe and a hatchback were available in these markets. 1984-1988 hatchbacks were available with any engine offered in the given area (FJ20E, FJ20ET, CA20E, CA18ET) but the Coupe was only available with the CA20E, except for the RS-X version which came with the FJ20ET. The FJ20ET and the FJ20E are dual cam motors (this is not denoted in the engine code, unlike later Nissan engine series). The 1988 Japanese RS-X was equipped with a CA18DET in place of the previous FJ20ET.
[edit] S13
The S13 Silvia, introduced in mid-1988 for the 1989 model year, was immensely popular in Japan. The Silvia name was no longer used on export models, however; European models were now known as 200SX. Following industry trends, the S13 Silvia switched to relampable fixed headlights. Projector optics were offered as an option.
The Silvia fastback was discontinued, replaced by a new model, the Nissan 180SX. This left only the notchback coupe. A convertible was briefly offered soon after the start of production, but it was never popular, perhaps due to high cost (3.25 million Yen in 1988).
The S13 was one of the first uses of Nissan's multi-link rear suspension, the technology of which was previewed in concept cars in previous years, such as the Nissan MID-4. It also offered a four-wheel steering system for the first time, known as HICAS-II. In 1990, HICAS-II would be updated and renamed SuperHICAS. The S13 also saw the introduction of a viscous-type limited slip differential for some models.
S13 Silvias were initially powered by the CA18DE and CA18DET engines carried over from the end of S12 production, with an intercooler added to the CA18DET for a slight increase in power. In 1990, for the 1991 model year, the SR20DE and SR20DET engines debuted, offering improvements across the board in power and torque, due to increased displacement and a more efficient turbocharger than the CA.
The S13 Silvia was discontinued after the 1993 model year, in favor of the new S14 chassis design. In 1998, the S13 Silvia was resurrected, in part. A variant was produced by Kid's Heart for Nissan called the Sileighty, which featured the 180SX body with the front end from the Silvia. The Sileighty style was originally created by Japanese enthusiasts for their own 180SXs, and is still a common modification for the 180SX and 240SX fastback.
[edit] Nomenclature
The S13 Silvia was the first S-series car to use the J's (Jack's), Q's (Queen's), K's (King's) naming for the different trim levels. The J's was the base model with a very basic interior, little standard equipment, and 14" steel wheels. The Q's model is middle-of-the-line. They received many electric options and an optional LSD. The K's received the turbocharged engines, along with all the upgrades of the Q's.
On top of the K's and Q's models, The Club Selection and Dia(mond) Selection packages came with specific options bundled together; for example, all K's Club Selections came with projector headlights, a rear spoiler, and aluminum wheels. All the names used are references to the suits and face cards of English playing cards.
There also exists the rare Silvia A's "Almighty" (オールマイティ), introduced in late 1992. Confusingly, the Almighty fits roughly into the middle of the range. The only available engine was the naturally-aspirated SR20DE.
[edit] S14
The S14 Silvia debuted in Japan at the end of 1993. It was lower, wider, and slightly shorter than the S13. New rounded styling contributed to the illusion of a much greater increase in size than actually occurred. Wheelbase and track were both increased slightly, leading to slightly improved handling. Unlike export markets, where local S14 chassis variants faltered, the Silvia remained popular in Japan.
Model names were similar to the S13 Silvia, with the Club Selection dropped. "Aero" variants of the Q's and K's were offered that featured large rear wings and mild ground effects.
The S14 Silvia K's received a new "notchtop" version of the SR20DET, boasting a slight bump in power due to the implementation of Nissan's variable cam timing system, VTC, and a more efficient ball bearing turbocharger.
There was a mild styling update to the S14 for model year 1997, which added aggressive projector headlamps to all models, and dark-tinted taillamps. Fascias and other trim were also revised. This updated version is popularly known as the kouki (後期, literally "latter period") S14, or it is sometimes called the S14a. The final model year of S14 production in all markets was 1998.
[edit] S15
Japan saw a new version of the Silvia (S15) in 1999, now boasting 250 hp (184 kW) from its SR20DET engine thanks to a slight turbocharger upgrade, as well as improved engine management. The SR20DE (non-turbo motor) featured only 165 hp (121 kW).
The S15 Silvia included aggressive styling inside and out; upgrades to the chassis and suspension, including increased use of light alloy suspension components; and for the first time, a six-speed manual transmission (in addition to a 5-speed manual transmission and a four-speed automatic). Also for the first time, instead of a viscous limited slip differential, the S15 offered a more effective helical limited slip unit.
For the S15 Silvia, the model lineup was initially simplified to just the Spec-S (non-turbo) and Spec-R (turbo), both models offering an "Aero" variant with a large rear wing and mild ground effects. The Spec-R featured the available 6-speed manual transmission, increased body and suspension rigidity, 4-piston front brake calipers, a larger brake power booster, the upgraded helical limited slip differential, and HICAS (High Capacity Active Steering) four wheel steering as an option; the Spec-S featured only a 5-speed manual transmission (in addition to a 4-speed automatic available on both the Spec-S and the Spec-R), lacks the additional support structures of the Spec-R, 2-piston front brake calipers, a slightly smaller brake power booster, and the viscous limited slip differential.
The line was later expanded to include various luxury and upgrade option packages for both the Spec-S and Spec-R. Autech, Nissan's special-car division, also offered several tuned versions of the S15; one with body and interior trim modeled after the Ferrari 456, called the style-A, available in both Spec-S and Spec-R based trims; and a second tuned version was based of the Spec-S trim level with the engine output increased to 200 hp through the use of increased compression, more aggressive camshafts, and free-breathing intake and exhaust tracts, along with ECU tuning and upgrades to the chassis and suspension. This version also included the 6-speed transmission and other upgrades normally found only in the Spec-R.
There was also a convertible variant of the Silvia, called the Varietta, featuring a folding retractable hardtop. The Varietta was built by Autech and was based off of the Spec-S model, featuring the same naturally aspirated engine, with a choice of the 4-speed automatic transmission or the 5-speed manual transmission.
Production of the Silvia ended in August of 2002 amidst Nissan's efforts to reduce its myriad of platforms. Nissan's sole sports car platform in the world is now the FM Platform, which underpins the current Fairlady Z and Skyline, and America's 350Z and Infiniti G35. It may or may not be the basis for the next GT-R.
[edit] Motorsports
The S-series' claim to fame is that it is one of the world's most popular drift cars, especially the S13 through S15 vehicles. It also has a long history in road racing. Its sister, the 240SX S13, was a multiple-time champion in the IMSA GTU series which its Silvia counterpart had a one make series in Japan. Silvias have been raced successfully in the JGTC and its predecessors. S110 and S12 Silvias also enjoyed limited success in rallying before AWD cars (including Nissan's own Pulsar GTi-R) proceeded to dominate the sport. During the S13's production, there was a one-make series in Japan.
[edit] Future development
As of 2002, Nissan stopped producing the S platform with the S15-series Nissan Silvia being the final variant. No production plans are in place to bring this vehicle back. It was rumored on the internet that Nissan released the concept for the S16 but it turns out that the concept car was actually the Nissan AZEAL concept which utilized a FF layout.
[edit] Popular culture
[edit] External links
- Nissan Silvia CSP311/Datsun 1600 Coupe archive/pictorial CSP311 history
- (Japanese) Archive of Nissan's official site for the S15 Silvia
- Club S12 International Community for S12 owners.
- nissansilvia.com #1 unofficial fan site for all of the silvia range and other imports
- modifiednissan.com A site for all nissan enthusiasts
- nissansilvia.co.nz Unofficial website based in New Zealand for all silvias.
- Dnsf.org Datsun Nissan Sports cars of Finland
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- (Japanese) Nissan Museum: Silvia History
| Part of the Nissan series | ||
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| Engines | 4 cylinder | D | C | G | J | H | L | A | Z | CA | CG | CR | E | FJ | GA | KA | SR | QG | QR | YD | HR | MR | MA |
| Inline 6 | L | H | S20 | P | RB | TB | RD | SD | |
| V6 | VG | VE | VQ | |
| V8 | Y | VH | VK | |
| See also: Infiniti division | Edit this template | |
