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138-774: The Leopard coupe and sedan were sold exclusively in Japan at Nissan Store locations as a companion to the Fairlady Z , allowing Nissan to sell a badge engineered version of the Skyline and Laurel. The Leopard was cancelled as a result of the Nissan Revival Plan , a casualty of overproduction. It was succeeded by the Nissan Fuga . The first Leopard (also known as Leopard TR-X) was introduced in September 1980 as

276-533: A "glass-to-glass" rear window sharing the very slim C- and D-pillars from the sedan. The angular appearance was shared with the Fairlady Z , and the coupé was exclusive to Nissan Store Japanese Nissan dealerships while the sedan was exclusive to Nissan Cherry Store . The coupé replaced the Nissan Cedric coupé and the Nissan Laurel coupé. The wind resistance drag coefficient of the two-door version

414-580: A $ 421 million loss in the last quarter due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the scandal concerning Ghosn. According to a spokesperson of Nissan North America, the company had suffered from a strategy of "volume at any cost", which has been attributed by analysts to Ghosn. In January 2023, Renault said it intended to transfer almost 30% of its controlling stake in Nissan to a French trust (pending approval by both companies), reducing its shares with voting rights to

552-527: A 17% cut earlier this year. Nissan also said that they would slash 9,000 jobs and cut global production capacity by a fifth. Nissan shares fell 6% on November 8, 2024 after it announced 9,000 job cuts and slashed profit forecasts due to weak sales in China and the U.S. In 1982, Nissan's first final assembly robots were installed in the Murayama plant, where the then-new March/Micra was assembled. In 1984,

690-730: A 25 percent tax on commercial vans imported to the United States. Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corporation USA was established in 1980. Nissan, Toyota Motor Corp. , and Honda Motor Co. began establishing manufacturing plants in the US in the early-1980s. Nissan's initial assembly plant Smyrna assembly plant broke ground in 1980 and at first only built trucks such as the Datsun 720 and the Nissan Hardbody Truck , but has since expanded to produce several car and SUV lines, including

828-457: A 5-speed automatic, and only the six-cylinder versions received variable valve timing (VVTi) engines, in 1996. Styling-wise, the Soarer received only minor changes during its 9-year production run, mostly external. External changes were shared with the U.S Lexus models. Changes were: From May 1992 Series 1 received an update with heated seats and exterior temperature display. Starting in 1997,

966-771: A 7-inch color LCD screen while continuing the multi-AV functionality of previous generations. A V8 engine was deleted, and at the time of introduction, only three V6 engines were available. The XV-G and XV came with the VQ30DET turbo, the XR with the VQ30DE, and the XJ with the VG30E. In January 1997, the XJ-Limited, based on the XJ, was offered the VG20E engine. Super HICAS was also installed on

1104-454: A black interior scheme replaced grey (becoming the predominant interior colour from 1998-2000) and from 1994-2000, cars with external paint code 202 came exclusively with the black interior. Models in 3L2 were available with either black or tan interiors. In 1995, a limited edition was offered with Baltic Blue Metallic (752) paint that was shared with the 1993-1996 Toyota Supra and the 1994-1999 Toyota Celica. Roughly 199 SC300s were imported into

1242-451: A button; however, the screen was not touch-sensitive. If the car was stationary with the transmission in park and the parking brake applied, broadcast TV could be watched. The Soarer was the first Toyota automobile with Toyota Electronic Modulated Suspension (TEMS) and an all-new double wishbone suspension was installed for the front and rear wheels, labeled as PEGASUS (Precision Engineered Geometrically Advanced SUSpension) to accommodate

1380-411: A camcorder and watch recorded video. The stereo and video equipment was supplied by Sony. The leather interior was designed with assistance from Poltrona Frau of Italy. The seats were made by Poltrona Frau at a rate of five per day. The interior treatment continued to use the contrasting arrangement used in the larger Nissan Infiniti Q45 with a dark color used for the dashboard, and center console, with

1518-500: A color LCD screen, that was installed in the dashboard below the A/C controls that allowed passengers to watch broadcast TV if the transmission was in Park and the parking brake applied. As before, the screen was not touch sensitive, and didn't offer a CD-ROM based navigation system. The display also showed AM/FM stereo settings. The video entertainment system also had RCA connections to attach

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1656-587: A contender in the upper medium class of cars. The Leopard was positioned as a larger coupe and sedan above the top level Nissan Bluebird 810 with the six-cylinder engine. The Leopard coupe was introduced after the Toyota Chaser but before the Toyota Soarer . The angular body, available as a two-door hardtop coupé " personal luxury car ", and a four-door hardtop sedan, which featured very slim C- and D-pillars and large glass surfaces. The coupé featured

1794-648: A dramatic revitalization of both its Nissan and Infiniti model line-ups. Ghosn has been recognized in Japan for the company's turnaround in the midst of an ailing Japanese economy . Ghosn and the Nissan turnaround were featured in Japanese manga and popular culture. His achievements in revitalizing Nissan were noted by the Japanese government, which awarded him the Japan Medal with Blue Ribbon in 2004. In February 2017, Ghosn announced he would step down as CEO of Nissan on 1 April 2017, while remaining chairman of

1932-680: A driver-adjustable air suspension system that had two settings for both ride height and damper stiffness. The high-pressure air was provided by an electric pump mounted at the front of the car. Also featured on the UZZ31 series were a host of electronic features including automatic headlights (shared also with the UZZ30), speed-sensitive wipers, electric-controlled 2-position memory seats with heated feature as an additional factory option, electronically adjustable steering column with memory, optional reversing camera , cabin air purifying system (also shared with

2070-583: A legal agreement with Austin, for Nissan to assemble 2,000 Austins from imported partially assembled sets and sell them in Japan under the Austin trademark. The agreement called for Nissan to make all Austin parts locally within three years, a goal Nissan met. Nissan produced and marketed Austins for seven years. The agreement also gave Nissan the rights to use Austin patents, which Nissan used in developing its own engines for its Datsun line of cars. In 1953, British-built Austins were assembled and sold, but by 1955,

2208-477: A lighter shade color used inside for the seats, interior door panels, headliner, carpet, and carpeted floor mats. The drivers window switch was both one-touch express down and double-sized, i.e., the same width as two conventional window switches, with the front and rear passenger window switches further down and the window lockout switch installed next to the front passenger switch. The front passenger and rear passenger window switches were thumb activated, installed at

2346-707: A manufacturing facility in Chennai , catering to the Indian market as well as a base for exports of small cars to Europe. Nissan sold nearly 520,000 new vehicles in China in 2009 in a joint venture with Dongfeng Motor . To meet increased production targets, Dongfeng-Nissan expanded its production base in Guangzhou , which would become Nissan's largest factory around the globe in terms of production capacity. Nissan also has moved and expanded its Nissan Americas Inc. headquarters, moving from Los Angeles to Franklin, Tennessee in

2484-553: A minority 15% and, in doing so, making Nissan shares in Renault to gain voting rights. The shareholding and voting ratio of both companies is set to be fixed in the future. The agreement also included Nissan investing in Ampere (a proposed Renault subsidiary for electric cars) and projects in various markets. In February 2023, both companies approved the going-ahead for the shareholding changes. Final details and regulatory clearances for

2622-598: A modern, aerodynamic appearance. Internationally, personal luxury cars were popular in the West, and Toyota saw an opportunity to offer the same type of car to Japanese buyers. The Soarer complied with Japanese external dimension regulations , and the first-generation models were classified as "compacts," which gave Japanese buyers tax-saving advantages. The engine displacements were also limited to above 2 liters but below 3 liters, so Japanese buyers could determine how much annual road tax they were willing to pay. It debuted with

2760-517: A partnership between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors of Japan, with Renault of France. As of November 2023 , Renault holds a 15% voting stake in Nissan, while Nissan holds the same stake in Renault. Since October 2016 Nissan holds a 34% controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors. In 2017, Nissan was the sixth largest automaker in the world, after Toyota , Volkswagen Group , Hyundai Motor Group , General Motors and Ford . In 2014, Nissan

2898-636: A rear-wheel-drive configuration based on the A60 Supra , which utilized MacPherson struts for the front, with a semi-trailing arm rear suspension with coil springs. Cruise control, audible warning messages, 7-way adjustable driver's seat, digital Automatic climate control , and digital speed and tachometer display using LEDs were included on top and mid-model trim packages. At the same time, ventilated disc brakes for all wheels and self-diagnosis maintenance reminders, among other electronic features, were standard equipment. The AM/FM stereo cassette had

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3036-474: A sporting feeling, and the suspension setting would modify both the steering feel and the shift points on the automatic transmission. A multi-link suspension was installed on the front wheels to accommodate the adjustable ride height shock absorbers. The Leopard F31's production run lasted seven years, ending in June 1992 due to lagging sales. Seven years was very long by period Japanese standards, nearly equaling

3174-641: A total of 48 Nissan Miss Fairlady pageants (26 in Ginza, 8 in Sapporo, 7 in Nagoya, 7 in Fukuoka). In April 2013, 6 more Miss Fairlady candidates were added to Ginza showroom, for a total of 27 48th Ginza Nissan Miss Fairlady pageants. In the 1950s Nissan decided to expand into worldwide markets. Nissan management realized, that their Datsun small car line would fulfill an unmet need in markets such as Australia and

3312-434: A video of Ghosn alleging this 2018-19 Nissan scandal is itself evidence of value destruction and Nissan corporate mismanagement. In September 2019, Saikawa resigned as CEO, following allegations of improper payments received by him. Yasuhiro Yamauchi was appointed as acting CEO. In October 2019, the company announced it had appointed Makoto Uchida as its next CEO. The appointment would be made "effective" by 1 January 2020 at

3450-502: Is 0.37. At the time of introduction, the two body styles both carried the same price tags. The Leopard featured some industry firsts, for instance a fuel consumption gauge in the dashboard. Originally the Leopard was available with naturally aspirated inline four- and six-cylinder engines of 1,800, 2,000, and 2,800 cc displacement; the largest engine received an electronic engine management system developed together with Hitachi , and

3588-699: The Nissan Store locations in Japan. The Leopard's more traditional coupé styling was offered as an alternative to the Fairlady ZX's fastback appearance. Trim packages started with the top-level Ultima Grand Selection with the 3.0 V6 engine, the Ultima with the 3.0 V6 (later the Ultima received the 3.0 V6 turbo), the XS-II Grand Selection with the 2.0 V6 Turbo, the XS-II with the 2.0 V6 Turbo,

3726-667: The Austin A50 – completely built by Nissan and featuring a new 1489 cc engine — was on the market in Japan. Nissan produced 20,855 Austins from 1953 to 1959. Nissan leveraged the Austin patents to further develop its own modern engine designs beyond what Austin's A- and B-family designs offered. The apex of the Austin-derived engines was the new design A series engine in 1966. In 1967, Nissan introduced its new highly advanced four-cylinder overhead cam (OHC) Nissan L engine , which while similar to Mercedes-Benz OHC designs

3864-1049: The Button Plan , with a version of the Nissan Pintara being sold as the Ford Corsair and a version of the Ford Falcon as the Nissan Ute . A variant of the Nissan Patrol was sold as the Ford Maverick during the 1988–94 model years. In North America, Nissan partnered with Ford from 1993 to 2002 to market the Ohio-built Mercury Villager and the Nissan Quest . The two minivans were virtually identical aside from cosmetic differences. In 2002, Nissan and Ford announced

4002-614: The Cedric Gran Turismo and Gloria Gran Turismo to save on manufacturing and production costs. There were four available trim packages, starting with the XV-G, equipped with rear seat passenger comfort and convenience features, followed by XV, XR, and XJ. Because this version was essentially a reskinned Cedric and Gloria, the all-new telematics in-car navigation system called Compass Link was installed as an extra cost option in all trim packages beginning with this generation using

4140-668: The Infiniti J30 , all J30s/Leopard J Feries were manufactured in Tochigi, Tochigi , Japan . The series used a MacPherson strut front suspension with a multi-link suspension rear suspension and Nissan's upgraded proprietary four wheel steering technology, Super HICAS . The nameplate J Férié derives from the French jour férié , for holiday. The word Ferie was (almost) shared with the Honda Civic Ferio marketed at

4278-672: The Kwaishinsha (Kaishinsha) Motor Car Works ( 快進社自働車工場 , Kwaishinsha jidōsha kōjō , A Good Company Automobile Manufacturer ) on 1 July 1911 in Azabu-Hiroo district of Tokyo. In 1914, the company produced its first car, called the DAT . The new car's model name was an acronym of the company's investors' surnames : It was renamed to Kaishinsha Motorcar Co., Ltd. in 1918, and again to DAT Jidosha & Co., Ltd. (DAT Motorcar Co.) in 1925. DAT Motors built trucks in addition to

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4416-629: The Nissan and Infiniti brands, and formerly the Datsun brand, with in-house performance tuning products (including cars) under the Nismo and Autech brands. The company traces back to the beginnings of the 20th century, with the Nissan zaibatsu , now called Nissan Group . Since 1999, Nissan has been part of the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance (Mitsubishi joining in 2016),

4554-843: The Nissan Altima , the Nissan Maxima , as well as the Rogue, Pathfinder, Infiniti QX60, and the Nissan Leaf all-electric car . The addition of mass-market automobiles was in response to the 1981 Voluntary Export Restraints imposed by the US Government. An engine plant in Decherd, Tennessee followed. Most recently a second assembly plant was established in Canton, Mississippi . By the early-1980s, Nissan Datsun had long been

4692-498: The Nissan Maxima ), but used a platform based on the Nissan Skyline R30 . The Japanese version had side view mirrors mounted on the front fenders and (uniquely) had small wipers attached to the top of the mirrors to remove accumulated rain and dirt from the surface of the mirrors. A list of the various trim levels and engines that the Leopard was available with at its introduction. The 2-liter engine gave Japanese buyers

4830-606: The Prince Motor Company , bringing more upmarket cars, including the Skyline and Gloria , into its selection. The Prince name was eventually abandoned, and successive Skylines and Glorias bore the Nissan name. "Prince" was used at the Japanese Nissan dealership " Nissan Prince Shop " until 1999, when "Nissan Red Stage" replaced it. Nissan Red Stage itself has been replaced as of 2007. The Skyline lives on as

4968-767: The SC 430 . In contrast to the previous series, the Z40 series Soarer and SC were based on a single model and were largely equivalent. In 2005, following the introduction of Lexus in Japan, the Soarer name and emblem were discontinued, and the Z40 model became the SC 430 in common with worldwide markets. When introduced in Japan, the Soarer competed with the Nissan Skyline , Nissan Leopard , and Mazda Cosmo coupes and served as Toyota's " halo car ," introducing new technologies before they were installed on other Toyota products. All versions of

5106-584: The Toyota Supra (A70) were offered only on GT trim packages upholstered in cloth or leather. In 1986, the electronically controlled ( TEMS ) carried over from the previous generation, and the double wishbone suspension was now shared with the A70 Supra. An electronically controlled airbag suspension was also available on the GT Limited model. In 1988, TOM'S released a limited-model package for

5244-552: The holding company Nihon Sangyo (日本産業 Japan Industries or Nihon Industries). The name 'Nissan' originated during the 1930s as an abbreviation used on the Tokyo Stock Exchange for Ni hon San gyo. This company was Nissan " Zaibatsu " which included Tobata Casting and Hitachi . At this time Nissan controlled foundries and auto parts businesses, but Aikawa did not enter automobile manufacturing until 1933. The zaibatsu eventually grew to include 74 firms and became

5382-491: The 1930s who introduced cars. The Fairlady name was used as a link to the popular Broadway play My Fair Lady of the era. Miss Fairladys became the marketers of the Datsun Fairlady 1500 . In April 2008, 14 more Miss Fairlady candidates were added, for a total of 45 Nissan Miss Fairlady pageants (22 in Ginza, 8 in Sapporo, 7 in Nagoya, 7 in Fukuoka). In April 2012, 7 more Miss Fairlady candidates were added, for

5520-525: The 2015 model year Chevrolet City Express, to be introduced by the end of 2014. Holden , GM's Australian subsidiary, sold versions of the Nissan Pulsar as the Holden Astra between 1984 and 1989. Toyota Soarer#Z10 The Toyota Soarer ( Japanese : トヨタ・ソアラ , Hepburn : Toyota Soara ) is a personal luxury GT coupé produced from 1981 to 2005 by Toyota and sold in Japan. It

5658-594: The 7M-GTE equipped vehicles named the C5. The TOM'S C5 Soarer could be optioned with a remapped ECU, larger turbocharger compressor, a woven fibre intake pipe, KYB shock absorbers with lowered springs, bespoke 16x8" ±50 TOM'S C5 wheels that were manufactured by Ray's Engineering and TOM'S C5 badges for the rear of the vehicle. In April 1989, a limited 500-unit variant called the Aerocabin was introduced. This variant had only 2 seats and an electric folding roof. The Aerocabin had

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5796-466: The DAT and Datsun passenger cars. The vast majority of its output were trucks, due to an almost non-existent consumer market for passenger cars at the time, and disaster recovery efforts as a result of the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake . Beginning in 1918, the first DAT trucks were produced for the military market. At the same time, Jitsuyo Jidosha Co., Ltd. (jitsuyo means practical use or utility) produced small trucks using parts, and materials imported from

5934-437: The G Series of Infiniti . To capitalize on the renewed investment during 1964 Summer Olympics , Nissan established the gallery on the second and third floors of the San-ai building, located in Ginza, Tokyo . To attract visitors, Nissan started using beautiful female showroom attendants where Nissan held a competition to choose five candidates as the first class of Nissan Miss Fairladys, modeled after "Datsun Demonstrators" from

6072-421: The JZZ30 the engine also received Toyota's VVTi system in 1997 which increased output to 169 kW (230 PS; 227 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 304 N⋅m (224 lb⋅ft) at 4,000 rpm while simultaneously improving fuel economy. While the increasing cost and slowing sales of the V8 models in the mid-to-late 1990s led to their discontinuation, the six-cylinder JZZ31 and JZZ30 were to remain in production until

6210-460: The JZZ31 from 1994), touch screen TV with 12-stack CD player, touch screen SatNav , and a full onboard computer diagnostic system which would output to the TV display unit. Like the JZZ30, the UZZ31 came with optional sunroof and rear wiper. Additionally, the UZZ31 could be "special ordered" from Toyota Japan without the EMV, instead being fitted with the radio/CD unit of the UZZ30 with separate climate control. Additionally, electric velour seats from

6348-725: The Japan, UK, Australia and New Zealand. Japanese Soarers were available in many colours. Some were offered continuously throughout the run and some as limited runs or one-offs. These colour runs did not always match the equivalent U.S. market offerings on the Lexus SC. From 1991 until 1993, Soarers with external paint codes 8J5 and 202 came with a grey interior colour scheme. Those in 6M2 were available with both grey and "spruce" (blue-grey) interior schemes. Models in 3k3 could have grey or tan interiors. Models with paint codes 4k9, 051 (1991-1998) and 057 (1998-2000) came with tan interiors exclusively. Similarly, those with paint code 176 and 6M3 came with spruce interior colour exclusively. From 1994,

6486-418: The Leopard received a mild facelift and with it, the under-performing 2.8 was dropped from the lineup. In June 1984 a limited Turbo Grand Edition with the 300ZX 's 230 PS (227 hp; 169 kW) 3 litre VG30ET turbo V6 engine joined the line-up. The car shared many components with the six-cylinder version of the Nissan Bluebird (910) , sold in North America as the Datsun 810 (and later renamed

6624-414: The Leopard wasn't available in leather for all trim packages, with a wool interior offered on the top three trim packages. The front passenger seat was also equipped with what Nissan called the "Partner Comfort Seat," where the top portion of the front passenger seat was further articulated to tilt forward, supporting the passenger's shoulders while allowing the seatback structure to recline. The front edge of

6762-425: The Lexus SC 300/400. That same year, Toyota debuted the third-generation Z30 series Soarer in Japan, replacing the Z20 series. The Z30 series Soarer shared the body and key components with the Lexus SC, with different interior features, powertrain configurations, and enhanced performance. The trim packages were the 4.0 GT-Limited, 4.0 GT, 2.5 GT-TwinTurbo-L and the 2.5 GT-TwinTurbo. The new Soarer continued some of

6900-400: The Nashville area. Project 901 was an initiative in the mid-1980s, and it represented a desire for Nissan to offer technologically advanced cars by 1990. Known by various names such as P901 Activity, 901 Activity, 901 Plan, 901 Operation, and Project 901, the project began under the leadership of Nissan President Yutaka Kume (1985-1992). Project 901 was initiated in early 1985 in response to

7038-407: The Nissan Mistral. Nissan licensed the Volkswagen Santana . Production began in 1984, at Nissan's Zama, Kanagawa plant, and ended in May 1990. From 1983 to 1987, Nissan cooperated with Alfa Romeo to build the Arna . The goal was for Alfa to compete in the family hatchback market segment, and for Nissan to establish a foothold in the European market. After Alfa Romeo's takeover by Fiat, both

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7176-410: The Soarer featured a unique winged lion emblem (often mistakenly called a Griffin ) as the logo throughout the vehicle. The Soarer, introduced as the EX-8, first appeared at the 1980 Osaka International Motor Show. At its introduction in 1981, it won the Car of the Year Japan Award. Toyota sought to introduce a grand touring coupe, offering a powerful straight-six engine, luxurious accommodations, and

7314-417: The Soarer several iterations of its straight six in 2.0, 2.8, and 3.0 liters' displacement, Nissan offered the all-new V6 either naturally aspirated or with a turbo in its Leopard. The displacements of the engines were of either 2.0 or 3.0 liters. The engines offered were the VG30DET , VG30DE , VG20DET , VG20ET , and VG20E . Early 2.0 turbo versions had the single-cam (per bank) VG20ET, but from August 1988,

7452-457: The Soarer was used as a high speed patrol car in multiple Japanese prefectures , using the 2.5GT trim with a 5-speed manual transmission. The JZZ30 was the only model sold continuously from the introduction of the 30 series in 1991 until production ceased in 2000. As the sportiest model in the range it was also the only one available with a R154 manual transmission. Like other models in the range there were two different equipment grades available,

7590-401: The Type L-S V6 sharing the equipment package with the Type X-S. The V8 claimed 270 PS (199 kW) in Japanese specifications. This generation was the first time an engine with a displacement under 2.0 L wasn't offered in Japan, and resulted in Japanese buyers being liable for a higher annual road tax bill which affected sales. The previous generation 6-inch CRT TV screen was upgraded to

7728-411: The USA with this exterior paint code and tan only interior, as well as 256 SC400s. In 1996, exterior colour 6P2 replaced exterior colour 6M2 and 8L5 replaced 8J5. The spruce interior was discontinued in 1998. Thereafter, models in 1A0 and 1C0 which had come with spruce interiors were changed to black interiors and 6P2 cars became available with black or tan interior schemes. The 40 series Soarer model

7866-429: The UZZ30 and JZZ30 models could be special ordered in place of the standard UZZ31 / UZZ32 leather electric seats. These special-order cars would take only a week to produce from the time of the order to completed product. It is not known how many non-EMV UZZ31s were made, although they were offered from the very start of production in 1991. These non-EMV UZZ31 Soarers are uncommon, with only the UZZ32 more rare. The UZZ32

8004-402: The UZZ31 and UZZ32 models had electrically adjusted heated leather seats with memory, those in the UZZ30 were upholstered in velour and had no heating or memory. The UZZ30 also came without sunroof or rear wiper. As the car was substantially lighter due to the exclusion of all the luxury amenities, it was a considered a driver's car, with good power, handling and braking. The UZZ30 series Soarer

8142-547: The United States. Commercial operations were placed on hold during Japan's participation in World War I , and the company contributed to the war effort. In 1926, the Tokyo-based DAT Motors merged with the Osaka -based Jitsuyo Jidosha Co., Ltd ( Jitsuyō Jidōsha Seizō Kabushiki-Gaisha ) a.k.a. Jitsuyo Jidosha Seizo (established 1919 as a Kubota subsidiary) to become DAT Jidosha Seizo Co., Ltd Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd. ( ダット自動車製造株式会社 , DAT Jidōsha Seizō Kabushiki-Gaisha ) in Osaka until 1932. From 1923 to 1925,

8280-416: The V8, called the 4.0GT-L was renowned for its smoothness and refinement. Although receiving a minor update in 1995 which improved responsiveness and bumped outputs to 195 kW (265 PS; 261 hp) 363 N⋅m (268 lb⋅ft), production of the V8-equipped Soarers ended before the powerplant received VVTi which substantially increased outputs in the Lexus SC400 and other models. The UZZ31 featured

8418-404: The VG30DE engine also increased marginally at the time of the facelift. The new turbocharged 3.0 liter VG30DET engine was available in top-spec form, which produces 255 PS (252 hp; 188 kW). Only the smaller VG20ET and VG20DET engines had intercoolers installed. The companion fastback sports car, the Fairlady ZX, reflected the angular bodywork. Still, the coupé remained exclusive to

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8556-531: The VQ series that utilized Nissan 's direct fuel injection engine configuration, which supplied fuel directly inside the engine cylinder instead of inside the intake manifold just before entering the cylinders. As the economic downturn of the post-" Japanese bubble economy " began to take effect, the Leopard suffered diminished sales. This generation was only at Nissan Saito Store locations to bolster sales and no longer at Nissan Store . As it directly competed with other Nissan large sedans and performance cars, it

8694-448: The XS with the V6 Turbo, the XJ-II with a 2.0 V6 and the base model called the XJ with the 2.0 V6. All models came with a digital instrument cluster, all models except the XS and the XJ came with stereo and cruise control buttons installed in the steering wheel center pad, and both Grand Selection models were installed with a 6-inch CRT TV screen installed in the dashboard below the A/C controls that allowed passengers to watch broadcast TV if

8832-453: The XV-G and XV, with internal model code JHBY33. For the 1998 mid-model refresh, the XJ-4 was installed with ATTESA E-TS AWD and the RB25DET turbocharged straight-six engine, borrowed from the Skyline and Laurel. The straight six was installed because ATTESA-ETS was either mated to the VH41DE V8 from the Cima, or the RB25DET from the Skyline and Laurel, which would've made the Leopard too expensive. The VG-based V6 engines were replaced with

8970-435: The Y32 Leopard) was designed by Jerry Hirshberg , president of Nissan Design International (NDI) and marketed as the Leopard J Ferie , beginning in June 1992 — as a four-door, five-passenger rear-drive sedan. Production began on April 7, 1992 as a 1993 model, and production ended on June 18, 1997. This was the first and only Leopard to be sold in North America, when it was introduced as a Infiniti. The Leopard abandoned

9108-426: The Z30 series was replaced by the Z40 series in 2001. The UZZ30 was introduced in Japan as the 'base' model of the V8 powered 30 series lineup. Fitted with the same 4.0-litre quad-cam V8 as the UZZ31/32, it benefited in the performance stakes due to its considerably lighter weight. The UZZ30 used a standard Tokico coilover suspension setup, basic stereo system, manual steering column, and very few electronic aids. While

9246-419: The Zama plant began to be robotized; this automation process then continued throughout Nissan's factories. Nissan electric vehicles have been produced intermittently since 1946. In 2010, the Nissan Leaf plug-in battery electric vehicle was introduced; it was the world's most sold plug-in electric car for nearly a decade. It was preceded by the Altra and the Hypermini . Until surpassed by Tesla, Nissan

9384-510: The ability to record on higher-quality metal tapes . On the face of the stereo was a microphone jack that would accommodate a microphone. If it was installed with a digital instrument cluster a trip computer was included. The digital cluster featured a digital tachometer, digital speedometer, electronic fuel, and coolant level gauges. The trip computer could calculate and display various things such as fuel economy in kilometers-per-liter, estimated time of arrival (ETA), and distance remaining to

9522-445: The addition of a cellular phone installed in a dedicated compartment in the dashboard above the glove compartment, where a modern passenger-side airbag would now be located. They also offered a choice of a cassette tape changer installed in the center armrest compartment, with a separate single-disc CD player in the dashboard. A CD changer was later upgraded to the center armrest compartment. Catering to Japanese tastes for luxury,

9660-415: The additional 110 kg (243 lb) weight of hydraulic componentry and power requirements of the system affected performance and reduced fuel economy compared to the standard UZZ30 and UZZ31 models. The car was also costly to produce and at over ¥ 7,600,000 in 1995, expensive to buy. As a result, only 873 UZZ32s were made and are typically the most sought-after model in right-hand drive markets such as

9798-452: The adjustable shock absorbers and anti-lock brakes were included. All mid-model refresh cars can be distinguished by where the side view mirrors are installed, whereby after 1983, the mirrors were relocated to the doors. The trim package names were updated to the 2.8 GT-Limited, 2.8 GT, 2.0 GT, 2.0 Turbo, 2.0VX, and 2.0VR with the entry-level 2.0V II, and for 1984 the 2.8 engine was upgraded to the 3.0-liter engine. The Z10 series Toyota Soarer

9936-460: The base GT-T and the better-equipped GT-TL which added electric seats, wood trim, cruise control and Toyota's TEMS electronic damper adjustment to the list of standard features. The JZZ30 was powered by the 2.5-litre 1JZ-GTE turbocharged engine. Initially featuring two identical small turbos running together (unlike the sequential twin turbo systems of the Supra and Mazda RX-7, for example), it

10074-829: The best selling Japanese brand in Europe. The Greek manufacturing plant itself was closed. A joint venture with Italy's then state-owned Alfa Romeo was also entered in 1980, leading to Italian production of the Nissan Cherry and an Alfa-badged and motorized version, the Alfa Romeo Arna . In 2001 Nissan established a manufacturing plant in Brazil. In 2005 Nissan added operations in India, through its subsidiary Nissan Motor India Private Limited . With its global alliance partner Renault , Nissan invested $ 990 million to set up

10212-465: The biggest customers of domestic automakers. In late-July 2019, Nissan announced it would lay off 12,500 employees over the next 3 years, citing a 95% year on year net income fall. Hiroto Saikawa, CEO at the time, confirmed the majority of those cuts would be plant workers. In May 2020, Nissan announced that the company would cut production capacity by 20% due to the COVID-19 pandemic . In mid-2020,

10350-708: The car and cooperation were discontinued. In Europe, General Motors (GM) and Nissan co-operated on the Nissan Primastar , a light commercial vehicle. The high roof version is built in the NMISA plant in Barcelona , Spain; while the low roof version is built at Vauxhall Motors / Opel 's Luton plant in Bedfordshire , UK. In 2013, GM announced its intentions to rebadge the Nissan NV200 commercial van as

10488-791: The company announced it would shut down factories in Indonesia and Spain, and would exit the South Korean car market. Nissan announced that the Infiniti brand will be pulled out from South Korea as well alongside the Nissan brand by December due to worsening business environment amidst the pandemic and the 2019 boycott of Japanese products in South Korea . Nissan announced that service centers will be managed to provide after-sales services such as vehicle quality assurance and parts management for eight years. In November 2020, Nissan announced

10626-488: The company produced light cars and trucks under the name of Lila. In 1929, DAT Automobile Manufacturing Inc. merged with a separated part of the manufacturing business of IHI Corporation to become Automobile Industries Co., Ltd. In 1931, DAT came out with a new smaller car, called the Datsun Type 11 , the first "Datson", meaning "Son of DAT". Later in 1933, after Nissan Group zaibatsu took control of DAT Motors,

10764-454: The company took a hard line. Workers were locked out, and several hundred were fired. The Japanese government and the U.S. occupation forces arrested several union leaders. The union ran out of strike funds and was defeated. A new labor union was formed, with Shioji Ichiro one of its leaders. Ichiro had studied at Harvard University on a U.S. government scholarship. He advanced an idea to trade wage cuts against saving 2,000 jobs. Ichiro's idea

10902-430: The company. He was replaced as CEO by his then-deputy Hiroto Saikawa . On 19 November 2018, Ghosn was fired as chairman following his arrest for the alleged under-reporting of his income to Japanese financial authorities. After 108 days in detention, Ghosn was released on bail, but after 29 days he was again detained on new charges (4 April 2019). He had been due to hold a news conference, but instead, his lawyers released

11040-558: The coupe to accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6 seconds. The shared body style of the Z40 series Soarer/SC 430 was developed by Toyota designers at design studios in France and Japan. Compared with the Z30 series, some observers generally considered the fourth generation a retreat in visual style due to its more compact and top heavy appearance. With the Z40 series Soarer, design and production synergies culminated in

11178-504: The coupe, and changed platforms from the Skyline and Laurel to the longer Cedric and Gloria. The sedan was the only body style offered, and was exclusive to Nissan Store . Its appearance at introduction was distinctive, and the small interior resulted from its rounded styling uncharacteristic of the crowded executive car class at the time, which is now considered an early variant of a four-door coupé . Marketed in North America as

11316-433: The destination. It was offered in four exterior colors with contrasting dark gray or dark brown interiors, while the six trim packages offered optional equipment as standard on the three top-level packages. The trim package names were the 2800GT-Extra, 2800GT, 2000VX, 2000VR, 2000V II with the entry-level 2000V I. When the mid-model refresh was introduced, several technological improvements were added. The digital speedometer

11454-479: The development of a single shared design configuration for both the Soarer and Lexus models, unlike the previous generations. The rise of Lexus as Toyota's premium worldwide marque also contributed to the design focus on the Lexus model configuration rather than a separate Toyota-branded series of Soarer coupes. On July 26, 2005, Lexus was introduced in Japan with the 2006 SC 430 TSOOH in its lineup. The debut of Lexus and

11592-562: The discontinuation of the arrangement. In Europe, Nissan and Ford Europe partnered to produce the Nissan Terrano II and the badge-engineered Ford Maverick, a mid-size SUV produced at the Nissan Motor Ibérica S.A (NMISA) plant in Barcelona , Spain . The Maverick/Terrano II was a popular vehicle sold throughout Europe and Australasia. It was also sold in Japan as a captive import , with the Nissan model marketed as

11730-499: The doors opened, the hinges moved out and forward, allowing entry and exit in confined spaces. From launch in 1991 until 2000 all models were available with a 4-speed automatic transmission. In addition, the sportier JZZ30 Soarer could be had with a 5-speed manual transmission. All models were available with a Torsen torque-sensing differential. Unlike their US Lexus equivalents, the Z30-series Soarer lineup never received

11868-485: The early MZ11s. The Z20 series Toyota Soarer was produced from January 1986 to April 1991 and was available in several variants. The styling of the second-generation Soarer is similar of that of the X80 series Cressida , Mark II , Chaser and Cresta . The Soarer shared its platform with the newly introduced A70 series Supra . The Z20 Soarer revised the previous generation Electro MultiVision CRT display installation from

12006-431: The end of 1993. The JZZ31 was the only one of the two JZZ models to feature manually adjustable black leather seats. The black interior scheme became the prominent interior scheme for all Japanese Soarers by the end of production. The JZZ31 was powered by the 3-litre 2JZ-GE engine, which initially was rated at 165 kW (224 PS; 221 hp) at 5,800 rpm and 285 N⋅m (210 lb⋅ft) of torque at 4,800 rpm. Like

12144-429: The features of earlier models, such as digital dashboard instrumentation and integrated car systems control via the in-dash EMV touchscreen. It was also one of the first cars in the world to feature a factory GPS automotive navigation system via CD-ROM overlaid with VICS traffic information for Japanese driving conditions. This generation of the Soarer was considered an expensive and extravagant luxury car in Japan. It

12282-640: The first car manufactured by an integrated assembly system rolled off the line at the Yokohama plant. Nissan built trucks, airplanes, and engines for the Imperial Japanese Army . In November 1937 Nissan moved its headquarters to Xinjing , the capital of Manchukuo . In December the company changed its name to Manchuria Heavy Industries Developing Co (MHID). In 1940, the first knockdown kits were shipped to Dowa Jidosha Kogyo (Dowa Automobile) , one of MHID's companies, for assembly. In 1944,

12420-485: The fourth-largest in Japan during World War II . In 1931, DAT Jidosha Seizo became affiliated with Tobata Casting and was merged into Tobata Casting in 1933. As Tobata Casting was a Nissan company, this was the beginning of Nissan's automobile manufacturing. In 1934, Aikawa separated the expanded automobile parts division of Tobata Casting and incorporated it as a new subsidiary, which he named Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. ( 日産自動車 , Nissan Jidōsha ) . The shareholders of

12558-485: The front bumper scanned the road surface and adjusted the suspension accordingly via actuators mounted on all four coil over shock absorbers . There was also a switch on the center console that allowed the driver to change between "Auto," "Soft," "Medium," and "Hard" settings on all models except the XS model, which removed the "Auto" selection. The speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion power steering could also be separately reduced for

12696-623: The growing demand for new, technically advanced cars from all Japanese manufacturers. With a market share of around 25% then, Nissan saw a decline to less than 20%, prompting the company to address its shortcomings. Under the banner of 'Aiming to be the world's best in technology by the 1990s,' the plan focused on the technological development of chassis, engines, suspensions, handling, design, and quality improvements for all car models to be introduced before 1990. In 1999, facing severe financial difficulties, Nissan entered an alliance with Renault of France. In June 2001, Renault executive Carlos Ghosn

12834-437: The head office was moved to Nihonbashi, Tokyo , and the company name was changed to Nissan Heavy Industries, Ltd., which the company kept through 1949. DAT had inherited Kubota 's chief designer, American engineer William R. Gorham . This, along with Aikawa's 1908 visit to Detroit, was to greatly affect Nissan's future. Although it had always been Aikawa's intention to use cutting-edge auto making technology from America, it

12972-548: The information in this article was translated from the Nissan Leopard article on Japanese Misplaced Pages at ja:日産・レパード . The fourth and last generation of the Leopard, introduced in March 1996, was offered as a hardtop sedan again, using frameless side windows with a "B" pillar . The controversial "J Ferie" appearance and the model name were canceled, and the Leopard shared its chassis, suspension, powertrain, and interior with

13110-419: The instrument cluster to a location below the automatic climate control, which could be upgraded to a touch-sensitive interface. A new feature offered navigation information uploaded by the use of cassette tapes then upgraded to CD-ROM . The digital speedometer display was upgraded and provided more information at a glance. The cloth upholstery was unique to each trim package, and the sport bucket seats used in

13248-472: The instruments holographically. This design was never offered on a USA spec model. Those cars came with a standard dash layout of round dials and lit needles similar to the LS400 Lexus sedan. Whereas the left hand drive version of UZZ30 was made throughout the entire 9-year production run, the right hand drive version was made from 1991 until 1993. The UZZ31 and UZZ32 Soarers were the luxury GT versions of

13386-406: The last syllable of Datson was changed to "sun", because "son" also means "loss" in Japanese, hence the name " Datsun " ( ダットサン , Dattosan ) . In 1933, the company name was Nipponized to Jidosha-Seizo Co., Ltd. ( Jidōsha Seizō Kabushiki-Gaisha , "Automobile Manufacturing Share Company") and was moved to Yokohama . In 1928, Yoshisuke Aikawa (nickname: Gisuke/Guisuke Ayukawa) founded

13524-399: The latest technological advancements and chic Italianate styling for sporty cars such as the Datsun Fairlady roadsters, the race-winning 411 series , the Datsun 510 and the Datsun 240Z . By 1970 Nissan had become one of the world's largest exporters of automobiles. In 1970 Teocar was established, which was a Greek assembly plant created in cooperation with Theoharakis. Nissan Mexicana

13662-481: The latest. On 1 December 2019, Uchida became CEO. In the United States, Nissan has been increasing its reliance on sales to daily-rental companies like Enterprise Rent-A-Car or Hertz . In 2016, Nissan's rental sales jumped 37% and in 2017 Nissan became the only major automaker to boost rental sales when the Detroit Three cut back less profitable deliveries to daily-rental companies, which traditionally are

13800-415: The lower trim level XJ-II and the XJ 2.0 V6 without a turbo. The differential was a Nissan R200-type open differential . The suspension was shared with the Skyline and Laurel, using MacPherson struts for the front wheels and a semi-trailing arm rear suspension with coil springs for the rear. If the Leopard was optionally equipped with the " Super Sonic Suspension " system, a sonar module mounted under

13938-486: The new company; however, were not enthusiastic about the prospects of the automobile in Japan, so Aikawa bought out all the Tobata Casting shareholders (using capital from Nihon Industries) in June 1934. At this time, Nissan Motor effectively became owned by Nihon Sangyo and Hitachi . In 1935, the construction of its Yokohama plant was completed. 44 Datsuns were shipped to Asia, Central and South America. In 1935,

14076-469: The option of paying less annual road tax : After a mild styling update in late 1982, the car was offered in the following variations: 180X GX, SGX 200X SGX, ZGX 200 Turbo SGX, ZGX, ZGX Super Edition 300 Turbo Grand Edition Most of the information in this article was translated from the Nissan Leopard article on Japanese Misplaced Pages at ja:日産・レパード . The F31 Leopard appeared in February 1986 and

14214-410: The passenger seat cushion was also adjustable. This was created by Dr. Yoshiyuki Matsuoka, who worked for Nissan from 1982. Like the Skyline and Fairlady ZX , the Leopard coupé was a front-engined and rear-wheel drive vehicle. The RE4R01A four-speed automatic with electronic overdrive was used, as well as a five-speed manual transmission, which was only available in the domestic Japanese market on

14352-625: The quad-cam version appeared. The bodywork was also facelifted in August 1988 and now featured a smoother front appearance, achieving a wind resistance coefficient of 0.32. It was the facelifted version that was exported to the USA, and approximately 12,000 Leopards were sold (with around 6,000 of those being converted to convertibles by ASC ). In the USA, the F31 was called the Infiniti M30 . Output of

14490-536: The range, with more features and equipment than the UZZ30 and the 6-cylinder models, and even the U.S market Lexus SC300/400. The EMV ( Electro Multi Vision ) touchscreen system which was pioneered in the Z10 and Z20 Soarers was again available and provided a screen with television, GPS navigation, diagnostics, car computer, reversing camera and touch control of all functions of the climate control and audio system. The latter

14628-413: The runs of two generations of most Japanese cars. Nobody knows exactly how many Infiniti M30 were produced for the US market, but it has been said that just over 17,000 were made. It is unknown how many were coupés and how many were convertibles; the convertible was only available in 1991 and 1992. 38,000 F31 Leopards were sold in Japan during its seven-year production span. The third generation (internally

14766-528: The same specs as the GT-Limited but was only available with the 7M-GTE engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, tan leather interior, and pearlescent paint. In 1988, the Soarer Z20 was given a facelift. The grille and rear taillights were redesigned and minor interior changes were made (climate control, dash). Other than that engines were improved: Unlike the A70 Supra, the 2.5 L twin turbo 1JZ-GTE

14904-592: The same time. Oldsmobile had used the nameplate "Holiday" in the 1950s and 1960s with a hardtop bodystyle. Power came from a 3.0  L VG30DE V6 (shared with the 300ZX ) which produced 210 PS (154 kW) and 192 lb⋅ft (260 N⋅m) of torque . While it shares the Y32 Chassis with the Nissan Cedric / Gloria , it was offered the engines used in the Nissan Cima Y32 where it

15042-521: The top of the interior door pull handle. The Y32 was the first car sold in Japan to include a passenger-side airbag as standard equipment. One of the numerous reasons the Y32 Leopard did not meet projected sales goals was that its most distinguishing feature was a lack of interior room. It had the distinction of being a mid-size car with the space of a subcompact (less than a Sunny ) due to its sloping roofline and rounded down trunk. The styling of

15180-502: The transaction were set to be completed by the first quarter of 2023 and it would be done by the fourth quarter. The companies also approved joint projects and Nissan's Ampere investment. The share transfer was completed in November 2023. In November 2024, Nissan announced an emergency turnaround plan which saw it cut its annual operating profit forecast by 70% to 150 billion yen ($ 975 million), marking its second downward revision after

15318-472: The transmission was in Park and the parking brake applied. The screen was not touch-sensitive and didn't offer a CD-ROM-based navigation system. The display also showed AM/FM stereo settings. The video entertainment system also had RCA connections to attach a camcorder and watch recorded video. Sony supplied the stereo and video equipment. On top of that, the Ultima models featured a keyless entry card. The Leopard F31 had few factory options, but dealers offered

15456-426: The vehicle was more favorably regarded in Japan than it was in the USA. All were built in Tochigi, Tochigi , Japan . Over its lifetime, approximately 70,000 were sold in the United States (more than 20,000 per year for 1993 and 1994; 17,899 in 1995; 7,564 in 1996; and 4,594 in 1997) and less than 8,000 were sold in Japan. Information for this section of the article was translated from Leopard J Ferie.com Most of

15594-704: The world's largest car market, the United States. Nissan first showcased the Datsun Bluebird at the 1958 Los Angeles Auto Show . Nissan had entered the Middle East market in 1957 when it sold its first car in Saudi Arabia. The company formed a US subsidiary, Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A. , in Gardena, California in 1960 headed by Yutaka Katayama . Nissan continued to improve the Sedan series with

15732-545: Was Gorham that carried out the plan. Most of the machinery and processes originally came from the United States. When Nissan started to assemble larger vehicles under the "Nissan" brand in 1937, much of the design plans and plant facilities were supplied by the Graham-Paige Company. Nissan also had a Graham license under which passenger cars, buses, and trucks were made. In his 1986 book The Reckoning , David Halberstam states "In terms of technology, Gorham

15870-412: Was a totally new engine designed by Nissan. This engine powered the new Datsun 510 , which gained Nissan respect in the worldwide sedan market. Then, in 1969, Nissan introduced the Datsun 240Z sports car which used a six-cylinder variation of the L series engine, developed under Nissan Machinery (Nissan Koki Co., Ltd. 日産工機 ) in 1964, a former remnant of another auto manufacturer Kurogane . The 240Z

16008-528: Was an immediate sensation and lifted Nissan to world-class status in the automobile market. During the Korean War , Nissan was a major vehicle producer for the U.S. Army. After the Korean War ended, significant levels of anti-communist sentiment existed in Japan. The union that organized Nissan's workforce was strong and militant. Nissan was in financial difficulties, and when wage negotiations came,

16146-424: Was augmented with Electro MultiVision display, on the 3.0 GT-Limited with the automatic transmission installed. It consisted of a six-inch CRT TV display installed in the instrument cluster showing engine revolutions, shift position, fuel consumption trends, and TEMS suspension settings. It would also notify if any maintenance warnings on linked systems should be done. Different functions would be displayed by touching

16284-651: Was available at both Japanese Toyota dealerships called Toyota Store and Toyopet Store , and it debuted with the Z10 series, replacing the Toyopet Store exclusive Mark II coupé , the Toyota Auto Store exclusive Chaser coupé , and both the Toyota Store exclusive Crown coupé and Carina coupé . In 1986, the Z20 series Soarer was launched, based on the then-new A70 series Supra platform, which

16422-417: Was called NAPS-Z . The 1.8 liter fours were also originally available with a four-speed manual transmission, all others received five-speeds as standard (or an optional three-speed automatic). In July 1981 a two-liter turbocharged engine was added. Available as a GX, SGX, and ZGX, it had the same maximum output 145 PS (143 hp; 107 kW) as did the more expensive and heavier 2.8. In September 1982,

16560-608: Was discontinued in December 1999. It wasn't available in North America, where the Infiniti J30 mid-range had been replaced by the Nissan Cefiro / Infiniti I30 . Nissan Motor Company#Japan Nissan Motor Corporation ( 日産 自動車 株式会社 , Nissan Jidōsha kabushiki gaisha ) is a Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Yokohama, Kanagawa , Japan. The company sells its vehicles under

16698-618: Was established in the early-1960s and commenced manufacturing in 1966 at the Cuernavaca assembly facility , making it Nissan's first North American assembly plant. In the wake of the 1973 oil crisis , consumers worldwide, especially in the lucrative US market, began turning to high-quality small economy cars. To meet the growing demand the new Nissan Sunny , the company built new factories in Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, United States, and South Africa. The " Chicken Tax " of 1964 placed

16836-437: Was exclusive to Toyota Corolla Store locations. In 1991, the Z30 series Soarer premiered in Japan, while its Lexus equivalent, the SC 300/400 , debuted in the US market. While externally identical to the SC, the Z30 series Soarer lineup offered different powertrain specifications and multiple unique vehicle configurations. In 2001, Toyota introduced a convertible-only successor in Japan as the Z40 series Soarer and elsewhere as

16974-406: Was highly sophisticated, with balanced-signal digital signal processing, 12-disc CD stacker and 7 speakers with subwoofer. All three V8 models were powered by Toyota's acclaimed 1UZ-FE quad-cam all-alloy 4-litre V8. While rated at marginally less power and torque than the turbocharged JZZ30 counterpart (191 kW (260 PS; 256 hp) at 5,400 rpm, 353 N⋅m (260 lb⋅ft) at 4,600 rpm)

17112-611: Was largely identical to its Lexus equivalent, sold outside Japan as the Lexus SC 430 since 2001. The Z40 series Soarer 430SCV featured a hardtop which could fold into the boot of the car, in the fashion of the contemporary Mercedes-Benz SL . The coupe was equipped with the 3UZ-FE VVTi (variable valve timing) 4.3-litre V8 engine, as was available in the Lexus LS 430 luxury sedan. It was rated at 208 kW (283 PS; 279 hp) and 430 N⋅m (317 lbf⋅ft) of torque. This enabled

17250-421: Was longer and wider than a Crown , while comfortably accommodating two passengers, with only modest space available for rear seat passengers. It did not comply with Japanese Government dimension regulations which made buyers liable for yearly taxes due to its size. The larger engines also obliged Japanese buyers to pay more annual road tax . One of the distinctive features was the articulating door hinges. When

17388-461: Was made part of a new union contract that prioritized productivity. Between 1955 and 1973, Nissan "expanded rapidly on the basis of technical advances supported – and often suggested – by the union." Ichiro became president of the Confederation of Japan Automobile Workers' Unions and "the most influential figure in the right wing of the Japanese labor movement." In 1966, Nissan merged with

17526-407: Was named chief executive officer of Nissan. In May 2005, Ghosn was named president of Nissan's partner company Renault. He was appointed president and CEO of Renault on 6 May 2009. Under CEO Ghosn's "Nissan Revival Plan" (NRP), the company has rebounded in what many leading economists consider to be one of the most spectacular corporate turnarounds in history, catapulting Nissan to record profits and

17664-468: Was not made available for the Z20 Soarer. However, all models built from May 1989 including the Aerocabin did have a revised crossmember. In 1987, following the design freeze of Lexus division's flagship UCF10 LS 400 (Celsior) sedan due in 1989, Toyota commissioned its California design studio Calty to develop a new luxury coupe. In mid 1991, the vehicle designed by the studio debuted in the U.S. as

17802-570: Was now 378 N⋅m (279 lb⋅ft) at 2,400 rpm. While the Lexus SC300 was available from the start of the new series' US introduction in 1991, the equivalent Japan-market Soarer model — the JZZ31 — was not introduced until 1994, where it was marketed as the "new base model" Soarer. 1994 also saw the introduction of the new black interior colour scheme which replaced the grey colour scheme used in blue, red, and black external colour cars until

17940-682: Was offered with both the VG30DE and VH41DE V8 . In Japan, three trim levels were offered, the Type X with VH41DE V8, the Type L which had the same equipment level as the Type X with the smaller VG30DE V6 engine, and the Type F offered with the V6 but more modestly equipped. Later updates offered the Type X-S V6 sharing the equivalent content level with the North American V6 equipped J30, and

18078-624: Was officially rated at 208 kW (283 PS; 279 hp) and 363 N⋅m (268 lb⋅ft) of torque at 4,800 rpm. This was in keeping with the Japanese Manufacturers' advertised power limit agreement, however real-world power outputs were somewhat higher. In August 1996, the engine received Toyota's variable valve timing system (VVTi) and in conjunction with a single, more efficient turbocharger, produced much better high and mid-range torque and better fuel economy. Official power output remained limited to 280 PS, although torque

18216-703: Was only available as a luxury GT coupé. This vehicle shared a platform with the Nissan Skyline R31 , Nissan Cefiro A31 , and the Nissan Laurel C32 to share development costs, benefiting from Project 901 . The Leopard sedan was replaced by the Nissan Bluebird Maxima in 1988. The F31 Leopard was directly competing mainly with the Toyota Soarer , Mazda Cosmo , and the Honda Legend coupé in 1986. Whereas Toyota offered

18354-477: Was produced from February 1981 to December 1985 in 2.0L, 2.8L, or 3.0L DOHC I-6 variants, and all engines came standard with electronic fuel injection. Early M-TEU-powered MZ11 models were different from later MZ11s in some regards. Later improvements to the MZ11 engine included a water-to-air intercooler , and further enhancements were made to an oil-and-water-cooled turbo, as opposed to the oil-cooled-only turbo in

18492-517: Was the founder of the Nissan Motor Company" and that "young Nissan engineers who had never met him spoke of him as a god and could describe in detail his years at the company and his many inventions." From 1934, Datsun began to build Austin 7s under license. This operation became the greatest success of Austin 's overseas licensing of its Seven and marked the beginning of Datsun's international success. In 1952, Nissan entered into

18630-415: Was the largest car manufacturer in North America. With a revenue of $ 78 billion in 2022, Nissan was the ninth largest automobile maker in the world, as well as being the leading Japanese brand in China, Russia, and Mexico. As of April 2018 , Nissan was the world's largest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, with global sales of more than 320,000 all-electric vehicles. Masujiro Hashimoto ( 橋本増治郎 ) founded

18768-621: Was the top-of-the-line 30 series, featuring all of the options available on the UZZ31 with the addition of the computer-controlled Toyota Active Control Suspension with four-wheel steering . The UZZ32 had no conventional suspension springs or anti-roll (stabiliser) bars, instead utilising self-levelling, fully hydropneumatic struts controlled by an array of sensors (such as axis accelerometers , suspension height, wheel speed and steering angle) that detected cornering, acceleration and braking forces. The system worked well and gave an unusually controlled yet smooth ride with no body roll. However,

18906-401: Was the world's largest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, with global sales of more than 320,000 all-electric vehicles as of April 2018. In 2022, it was announced that Nissan was intending to create solid-state batteries for electric vehicles. In Australia, between 1989 and 1992, Nissan Australia shared models with Ford Australia under a government-backed rationalisation scheme known as

19044-513: Was used as the base vehicle for the Lexus SC400 (model code UZZ30) exported to the United States, although to satisfy U.S. requirements, a comprehensive range of luxury options was offered, including some features of the UZZ31, such as seat memory position, traction control, sunroof, sun visors with courtesy light and electronic steering position adjustment. Local Japanese Soarers had an electronic dashboard which used an integral mirror to display

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