The Nissan Primera was a large family car produced by the Japanese automaker
Nissan for the Japanese and European markets. In Japan, it replaced the
Nissan Langley, and was exclusive to Nissan Prince Store locations. It was a
platform upgrade, with engine performance and suspension modifications
of the Nissan Pulsar. In North America, it was the entry-level luxury-sports
sedan for the Infiniti. The word "primera" is Spanish for "first
class" or "finest". P10
Since 1986, Nissan had been building Bluebirds—it was essentially a re-badged
home-market Auster/Stanza – for the European market at its factory in
Washington, Tyne and Wear, England. In the autumn of 1990, Nissan replaced
the United Kingdom's Bluebird with the smaller, Pulsar-based 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 carburetor and 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre injection gasoline engines; a
2.0-litre diesel followed from 1992 onwards, a 1.6-litre injection gasoline
was introduced at the end of 1993. The 1.8-litre version was not sold in the
rest of Europe. Bodystyles were four- and five-door saloons. A five-door
estate was also offered as Primera Station Wagon, however it was not based
on the sedan, but derives from the Nissan Avenir and was only made in
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-litre gasoline
engine received a power upgrade in 1992 which gave the then eZX, 150 bhp from
the standard 2.0-litre engine and a top speed of around 219 km/h.
Some five–door British, RHD Primeras were exported back to Japan, 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.
= Trim levels= The Primera range came in six trim
levels at launch: L, LS, SLX, GS, GSX and ZX. The 1.6-litre engine was
available in L, LS and LSX trim and the 2.0-litre 115 bhp engine was available
in LS, GS and GSX trim. The ZX model had a 2.0-litre 150 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 engine only. LX was
slightly plusher, but 2.0-litre petrol and diesel versions were also available.
SLX was the mid-range model, and this also had a choice of 1.6 and 2.0 petrol,
or 2.0 diesel engines. The SGX trim level was the luxury specification
version; powered by the 2.0-litre 115 bhp engine. The eGT was the sporting
version, with a 2.0-litre 150 bhp engine. Engine power was slightly
increased in mid-1994 with the 1.6 model now producing 102 bhp and the 2.0 model,
123 bhp. From 1994, the range received another
facelift, and the trim levels were 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. A rare AWD option was available known as
a T4 with 150 bhp. At this time, SE also replaced SGX. A new "hot hatch" version,
the SRi joined the line-up from 1994, and this had a choice of 1.6- or
2.0-litre petrol engines. P11
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 Europe 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. 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, SR20DE and SR20VE-for Japan only engines, and
initially only as a sedan. The UK assembled hatchback was available only
with the SR20DE engine and automatic transmission and began production from
November 1997. Estate began production from September 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 G-V and autech edition wagons
and Te-V Saloon. Nissan Primera HP11 TE-V was equipped with SR20VE and CVT-M6
automatic transmission only. Nissan continued selling the Primera in
the United States as the Infiniti G20 until 2002 when it was replaced by a
rebadged version of the Nissan Skyline V35 as infiniti G35. The G20 used 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. 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 because until 1998 Nissan had an automotive assembly
operation in New Zealand, and for a short time between 1997 and 1998 the P11
Primera was assembled in Wiri, Auckland. The Primera won the British Touring Car
Championship manufacturers and team titles thanks to RML in 1998 and, in
1999 British Touring Car 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.
= Facelift= 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 petrol engine, the QG18DE was added to the range. 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. = STCC Edition=
Only 100 of them were made. It had the same engine as the Primera Sport, but it
was lowered 25 mm and had a bigger wing. P12
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. In that
market Japanese-built sedans and wagons were available. This was until 2006,
when United Kingdom assembled hatchbacks and estates were made available. The CVT
is also available in the European 2.0 L and the Japanese 2.0/2.5 L.
Falling sales saw the Primera withdrawn from sale in the RHD, United Kingdom in
November 2006. However, LHD production ceased during 2008. In Japan, production
of RHD Primeras also continued until 2008.
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 150 kW of power at 7200 rpm and
206 N·m of torque at 5200 rpm. = Replacement=
Speculation in the motoring press suggested that an 'tweaked' version of
the Nissan Altima would be the replacement, but this was never
confirmed by Nissan. In August 2006, Auto Express reported pictures of an
disguised prototype testing in Germany. However, it was actually the then–new
Nissan Sentra, which became the Nissan Versa.
References ^ "Nissan In Great Britain".
Car-cat.com. Retrieved 2010-07-25. ^ "Next Primera hits road at last?".
Auto Express. 2006-08-06. External links
The Nissan Primera Owners Club NPOC - The worlds biggest club dedicated to the
Nissan Primera [1]
Official British site Nissan Primera 20V
NeoVVL Owners Club A resource dedicated to the NeoVVL engine owners.
A forum for all things SR20 Nissan Primera Club - WAGON Russian
wagon club