>>Nissan Primera

Nissan Primera

Nissan Primera
Manufacturer	Nissan
Also called	Infiniti G20
Production	1989—present
Class	Large family car
Body style(s)	4-door saloon 5-door liftback 5-door estate

The Nissan Primera is a large family car produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan for the domestic and European markets.

Nissan Primera P10

Since 1986, Nissan had been building Bluebirds—it was essentially a rebadged home-market Auster/Stanza – for the European market at its factory in Sunderland, England.

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-liter carburetor and 1.8-liter and 2.0-liter injection gasoline engines; a 2.0-liter diesel followed from 1992 onwards. The 1.8-liter 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).

Nissan had deliberately targeted the car at the European market. The Primera saw Nissan's multi-link front suspension applied to front-wheel drive for the first time. The 2.0-liter gasoline engine received a power upgrade in 1992 which gave the then eZX, (later renamed the eGT) 150 bhp from the standard 123 bhp 2.0-liter engine and a top speed of around 219 km/h (or 137 mph).

Some five-door UK Primeras were exported back to Japan, as well as to New Zealand, Russia and Ireland. In the United States, the Japanese-built version of the Primera was rebadged as the Infiniti G20, part of Nissan's upper-scale Infiniti brand. This version sold well in the Canadian market.

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-liter engine, whilst the GS and ZX models had a 2.0-liter 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-liter diesel version was available from 1992. L cars were basic, and had the 1.6-liter gasoline or 2.0 diesel engines only. LX was slightly plusher, but a 2.0-liter version was also available, which the L version did not have. SLX was the mid-range model, but this had a choice of 1.6 and 2.0 gasoline, or 2.0 diesel engines. The SGX trim level was the luxury specification version; powered by the 2.0-liter 123 bhp engine. The eGT was the sporting version, with a 2.0-liter 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 gasoline 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-liter gasoline engines.

Nissan Primera P11

Nissan Primera SRi hatchback

See also Infiniti G20

The second-generation Nissan Primera was launched in late 1995 in Japan and in the autumn of 1996 in Europe. Unique in its class, new Primera featured multi-link beam rear suspension with multi-link front suspension.

As before, in the UK and Europe the Primera was sold with 1.6 L and 2.0 L gasoline engines and a 2.0 L diesel, with liftback, saloon and estate bodystyles. While the estate was now based on the Primera's platform, it was assigned a model code of WP11.

In Japan the Primera was initially offered with the SR18DE and SR20DE engines, and initially only as a sedan. The UK assembled liftback was available only with the SR20DE engine and automatic transmission and began production from November 1997. Estate began production from Sep 1997.

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 the Infiniti G20, 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. This was due to the fact that until 1998 (due to lifting of import tariffs on cars) Nissan New Zealand had an automotive assembly operation, and for a short time between 1997 and 1998 the P11 Primera was assembled there.

The Primera won the British Touring Car Championship manufacturers and team titles thanks to RML in 1998 and, in 1999 won manufacturer and team titles plus first and second place in the championship with Laurent Aïello and David Leslie 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, and Nordic blue.

Nissan Primera P11-144 (Mk II Facelift, 1999—2002)

The Infiniti G20 was a rebadged Nissan Primera.

In the autumn of 1999, Nissan gave the Primera a facelift, giving it a more modern, front end with clear style headlamps featuring projector units—instead of the traditional fresnel lens type. Nissan also introduced their "corporate identity" front, with the "flying wing" grille. The new code-name for this model was "P11-144".

Along with the exterior changes, improved specification levels were present; 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 new "lean burn" 1.8 L gasoline engine, the QG18DE was added to the range, and the 2.0 SR20VE Neo VVL engine with Variable Valve Lift and Timing could now be had with 6-speed sequential semi automatic CVT transmission in the style of a racing car—this was called the M6. 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 El Caminos instead, bringing them into line with the look of the American Infiniti model.

Nissan Primera P12 (2002-present)

Nissan Primera SSS

Nissan Primera DCI T-SPEC

In December 2001, Nissan introduced the third-generation Nissan Primera, its first all-new car since the alliance with Renault was formed two years earlier. The new Primera is more radically styled than previous versions. No Infiniti equivalent was released; the Nissan Skyline-based Infiniti G35 replaced the G20 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). In that market the saloon was the mainstream model, until 2006 when the liftback variant supplanted it.

Falling sales saw the Primera withdrawn from sale in the UK at the end of 2006, though production will continue for export markets until the launch of its successor in 2008.

The end of Primera sales in the UK coincided with the launch of the controversially-styled Qashqai Crossover SUV as well as the demise of the smaller Almera hatchback. British buyers are currently without a straightforward choice in these two crucial sectors, as Nissan is moving in a new direction to attract buyers to less conventional products.

• Nissan Primera SSS

The 2.0 L 6-Speed Manual Nissan Primera 20V (Badged SSS) has Nissan's SR20VE Neo VVL engine with Variable Valve Lift and Timing. It produces 150 kW (204 PS) of power at 7200 rpm and 206 N·m (21.0 kgf·m) of torque at 5200 rpm.