Nissan Primera
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The Nissan Primera is a mid-sized range of automobiles manufactured in the United Kingdom and Japan.
Nissan Primera P10 (Mk I Phase 1 and 2, 1990–1996)
Since 1988, Nissan had been building Bluebirds—essentially a rebadged home-market Auster/Stanza—for the European market at its factory in Sunderland. While that car was well-built and reliable, it lacked the all-round competency—particularly flair—needed in the large-medium family car sector there.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 L carburettor and 1.8L and 2.0 L injection petrol engines; a 2.0 L diesel followed. 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. The Primera sees Nissan's multi-link front suspension applied to front wheel drive for the first time. The petrol engine received a power upgrade in 1992 which gave the GT version a top speed of around 130 mph.
Some five-door UK Primeras were exported back to Japan. The SE was the plush trim level.
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. It's 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.
Nissan Primera P11 (Mk II Phase 3, 1995–2000)
- See also Infiniti G20
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, 1.8 and 2.0 petrol engines and a 2.0 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 WP11.
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.
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, swoopy front end, and improved its specification levels. The new name was P11-144. A 1.8 petrol engine was added to the range, and the 2.0 petrol could now be had with 6-speed sequential semi automatic transmission in the style of a racing car. Essentially, though, the Primera scored high on excellent levels of build quality and reliability. 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 in 1999 with Laurent Aïello at the wheel of the factory-sponsored team, and privateer Matt Neal took the Independents Cup in 1999 and 2000. To celebrate this victory, Nissan UK released a limited edition 'GT' Model, which featured Enkei racing style wheels, two-tone 'flip' paint and in some instances, gold badging.
Nissan Primera P12 (Mk III, 2001–)
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 looks similar to the Renault Laguna, 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 Nissan Skyline-based Infiniti G35 replaced it in the United States.
New Zealand Primeras are all equipped with CVT 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.
Nissan Primera 20V P12 (Mk III, 2001–)
The 2.0L 6 Speed Manual Nissan Primera 20V has Nissan's SR20VE Neo VVL engine with Variable Valve Lift and Timing.It produces 150 kW (204PS) of power at 7200 rpm and 206Nm (21.0kgm) of torque at 5200 rpm.
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| See also: Infiniti division | [http://encycl.opentopia.com/ Edit this template] |
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