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Nissan Prairie

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The Nissan Prairie ( Japanese : 日産・プレーリー , Hepburn : Nissan Purērī ) is an automobile manufactured and marketed by Nissan from 1981 to 2004. Considered a mini MPV or a compact MPV . It was also marketed as the Multi in Canada and the Stanza Wagon in the United States . In Japan, it was exclusive to Nissan Bluebird Store locations, then later at Nissan Blue Stage sales channels. The Prairie had a very flexible seating capability and sliding rear doors on both sides of the vehicle, with a liftgate in the back. The name " prairie " was derived from French which means an extensive area of relatively flat grassland, similar to " steppe " or " savanna ".

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111-820: The second generation was marketed as the Nissan Axxess in North America, and replaced there by the larger Nissan/Ford joint venture called the Nissan Quest , and in Europe it was partially replaced by the Nissan Serena . When the third generation of this vehicle was introduced in Japan, it was renamed initially Prairie Liberty , with the "Prairie" name eventually dropped in November 1998. This vehicle

222-585: A Facebook user found the V42 concept in Nashville , Tennessee waiting to be scrapped. The front end of the concept was nearly identical to the production V42, but the rear end used a different design from the production car. In 2010, Nissan provided five teaser images of the 2011 Quest revealing the exterior and interior. It was then unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show that year. The design

333-401: A 1.3-litre four, this was replaced by a larger and more powerful 1.4-litre version for 1975. This engine remained in use, continuing to be installed in the next generation B210. At the time, their body styles were popular with buyers – mainly the hatchback coupé as the sedans were considered by some to be less appealing. Datsun dealers were instructed to describe the coupé as having "the image of

444-508: A 1.4-litre L14 engine. American market B210s were the first Sunnys to have the larger 5 mph (8 km/h) collision bumpers , due to the USA's safety standards at the time. Other markets continued with the more tightly fitted chrome bumpers. In most markets, the B210 line featured as the only engine option a re-designed A12 engine . As usual for Japan, the wagon (three- and five-door models alike)

555-678: A Mini- Z-Car ". The 1978 B210 (American model) with five-speed transmission was rated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency at 50 mpg ‑US (4.7 L/100 km; 60 mpg ‑imp ) highway fuel economy. Road & Track was somewhat critical of the B210 in their 1975 test . They criticized the "modest performance" of the "peppy" engine, but were impressed with its 27 mpg ‑US (8.7 L/100 km; 32 mpg ‑imp ) fuel economy. B210 pricing started at US$ 2,849 that year. The "Datsun Honeybee"

666-437: A car of this size, while also being competitively priced as well as Datsun cars have a reputation for being reliable, while at the same time UK-manufactured cars were in short supply due to the regular strikes and stoppages affecting British car plants. British Leyland was particularly hard hit by these crises, while at the same time several of its model ranges were gaining a reputation for being unreliable and badly-built. This

777-407: A certain amount of criticism, with Car Styling Quarterly calling it old-fashioned and dumpy at the rear, while the plastic detailing was referred to as overworked. It was, however, recognizable as a Nissan house design. This generation was also the last Sunny to utilize the front engine and rear-wheel drive layout. At home they only received the new A12A engine and the slightly larger A14, although

888-531: A common platform. The Sunny was sold in Japan at a dedicated dealership sales channel called Nissan Satio Store , and rebadged versions later appeared at the other Japanese networks. The first Datsun Sunny, exported as the Datsun 1000, was launched in September 1966 with two body styles, a two-door sedan (B10) and a van/station wagon (VB10). The Sunny was an all-new product built on a dedicated platform called

999-609: A competition organized by Car and Driver against the Chevrolet Venture , Toyota Sienna , Mazda MPV , and Chrysler Voyager . The Quest performed poorly and placed fifth out of the five minivans tested; the editors cited a lengthy braking distance of 220 feet from 70 mph and inflexible seating configurations (the third-row seat was not removable) as downsides, while the Quest's performance and nimble handling were cited as advantages over its competitors. In August 2000,

1110-545: A concept vehicle being presented in January 2002 at NAIAS as a thinly veiled preview. Design patents were filed on December 27, 2002 and registered under D483,297 on December 9, 2003. The production third generation Quest was unveiled for the 2004 model year at the 2003 North American International Auto Show using the Nissan Altima and Nissan Maxima platform , Nissan's FF-L platform, in a package slightly longer than

1221-477: A double bed (in combination with the front seats); rear window winders that folded into themselves (to prevent catching when the doors were slid open); tailgate that opened past the floor of the very low and flat luggage compartment (the center section of the rear bumper was mounted on the tailgate); optional front-facing third row of seats. This type of entry was later introduced on the Toyota Isis , but only on

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1332-579: A five-speed manual gearbox, power assisted disc brakes, and a roof height extension to accommodate taller South Africans. The 1400 Bakkie was replaced late in 2008 by the NP200 , a rebadged Dacia Logan Pick-Up. A major departure for the Nissan bakkie is that the new model is front-wheel drive (FWD), whereas the original was rear-wheel drive (RWD) – a major selling point of the vehicle in South Africa where it

1443-468: A flat folding rear bench and the two middle chairs fold nearly flat into the floor. The interior volume is 211.9 cubic feet (6.00 m ). Its appearance shows many similarities to the Renault Espace which appeared in 2002. The third generation Quest features an unusual moonroof glass arrangement with separate panels above each passenger with individual retractable sunshades, while the roof above

1554-578: A game of one-upmanship which had started when Toyota gave the Corolla an 1,100 cc engine and prominently featured the additional displacement over its Sunny rival. Predictably, Nissan responded by giving the second generation Sunny a 1,200 cc engine and a somewhat controversial marketing campaign with the theme "the car next to me looks small." The Datsun 1200 featured MacPherson strut front suspension with optional disc brakes and an economical 1.2-litre A12-series engine , an enlarged version of

1665-525: A new approach for Nissan in the 1960s where all mainstream products shared a similar appearance, as demonstrated in the larger Nissan President and Nissan Bluebird . The only other country that seems to have received the coupé is Australia, where it was marketed as the "Datsun 1000 Coupé". It was well equipped, and was available only in the Deluxe level of trim. The Australian Deluxe model came standard with many inclusions that were available only as options in

1776-466: A new grille to accommodate this change). Other significant changes include: The Sunny Truck was sold in South Africa for a total of 37 years after having been launched there in 1971. The B140 variation, with 1.4-litre A14 engine, was manufactured up until 2008 by Nissan South Africa as the Nissan LDV 1400 (Light Delivery Vehicle). The 1400 Bakkie saw many changes in its long career. The main ones were

1887-527: A single transverse leaf spring. In Japan the car was sold at a dealership sales channel established just for the Sunny, called Nissan Satio Store . The Sunny was introduced in the same year as the Toyota Corolla and Subaru 1000 . In December 1965, Nissan held a national campaign in Japan to name its newest product in a mail-in ballot, and after receiving over eight million submissions, the name Sunny

1998-656: A speed of 294.868 mph (474.544 km/h). SCTA records Despite earlier misgivings, the 120Y, when finally launched in New Zealand in 1974, proved popular with Nissan NZ. It eventually assembled some cars in a temporary CKD plant in the Auckland suburb of Mount Roskill, before the new plant in Wiri was completed later in the decade. Four-door sedans and three-and five-door wagons were built locally and were supplemented by some coupés imported built-up from Japan. The 120Y

2109-403: A sports steering wheel by De Moura, and a centre console with additional instrumentation. In North America (US and Canada), there over 133,000 Datsun 1200s were sold in the three model years they were available, 1971 through 1973. Coupé total sales were 89,541 and two-door sedan total sales were 43,761. The New York Yankees used a Datsun 1200 as a bullpen car in the 1970s. The Datsun 1200

2220-517: A sporty Datsun 1200 S1 two-door sedan was also derived by Nissan's local affiliate. The S1 made use of the free-flow exhaust from the Troféu cars, a modified camshaft, increased compression ratio, modified valves with double springs, polished cylinder head and manifold headers, and double carburetors. Power increased from the 68 hp (50 kW) of the standard car to 75 hp (55 kW). Cosmetically, it received side stripes, wider wheels and tires,

2331-454: A standard gear pattern. On all body variants except the Van and "squareback" wagon, the leaf spring rear suspension was replaced by a more advanced coil spring four-link configuration, while the front had struts with coilover springs. Other than that, the chassis was very similar to that of the B210, albeit with a beefier front suspension and a relocated fuel tank in the sedans. It was now beneath

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2442-727: A three-door version, meaning that the VB310 was finally retired. This model marked the first and only time the "Sunny" name was used in Australia. This chassis, along with the A10 chassis on the 160J/Violet/Stanza formed the basis for the S110 chassis on the Nissan Silvia . In most markets, the A12 engine was the only, or most common engine offered. However B310s in various markets were fitted with

2553-595: A wheelchair, and by remote control. The sliding doors were offered with an electrically opening feature on both sides from May 7, 2001. A facelift appeared in September 2002 and various appearance packages were offered to update the appearance until sales ended in December 2004, and replaced by the all new Nissan Lafesta . Nissan Quest The Nissan Quest is a minivan manufactured and marketed by Nissan for model years 1993–2017 over four generations. The first two generations (internally designated V40 and V41) of

2664-488: A wood and leather-trimmed steering wheel. An optional overhead family entertainment system replaced the former floor-mounted model, though it could still be specified for SEs and GLEs equipped with a sunroof . Front seatbelts were given pretensioners. The 2001 Quest was also slightly longer, with more cargo space than the initial models. The 2002 Nissan Quest was not sold in Canada . The Quest would not return to Canada until

2775-639: Is equipped with either the SR20DE or the SR20DET engine, both of which are mated to either a 4-speed automatic or a CVT transmission. The third generation Prairie now shared a platform with the compact station wagon Nissan Avenir with the Prairie/Liberty focused more on flexible seating and cargo carrying duties. Some of the issues buyers had with the Prairie was its appearance and performance, so

2886-569: The 1970 Bathurst 500 . In South Africa, the B110 was sold through 1976. A pick up derivative, featuring a 1400 cc engine, was sold until 2008 when emissions laws forced the end of its production. Over 275,000 were sold to customers who appreciated the rugged rear-wheel-drive design. In New Zealand, a special edition Datsun 1200 SSS four-door sedan with twin side-draft Dell'Orto 40 mm carburetors, different camshaft, 5-slot aluminium wheels and cosmetic changes in both exterior and interior, it

2997-565: The Chrysler long-wheelbase minivans. Production was moved to a new plant in Canton, Mississippi and started on May 27, 2003. The Quest is powered by the 3.5 L VQ35DE engine from the Maxima, Altima, and others. The 2004 Quest recorded a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 8.8 seconds. In the Quest, it produces 240 hp (179 kW) and 242 lb⋅ft (328 N⋅m) of torque. The Quest has

3108-474: The Nissan Cedric ; Nissan decided to duplicate the success it had with a Bluebird-based pickup truck for the new Sunny platform. The Sunny was engineered by newly acquired Aichi Machine Industry Co., Ltd. , and gave the new acquisition the ability to demonstrate their profitability to their new Nissan owners. The Sunny truck dimensions were in compliance with Japanese Government dimension regulations and

3219-458: The "B" series that benefited from Nissan's production of small cars since before the war and combined engineering efforts from newly acquired Aichi Manufacturing that met the goals set by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry " national car " program. These were available in both a "Standard" and "Deluxe" version, featuring drum brakes, conventional leaf springs at the rear and wishbone type independent front end. The front end used

3330-430: The 1171 cc A12 engine as already used in the 1200, with 49 kW (67 PS; 66 hp) at 6000 rpm. The well-equipped 140Y GX had a 1428 cc 70 kW (95 PS; 94 hp) L14 motor and was also available as a two-door liftback coupé. The only other bodywork available at the time of introduction was a four-door sedan; later a four-door wagon joined the lineup. All South African Datsun Y's received

3441-497: The 1200 car series ceased production the B120 continued. In certain markets such as South Africa, the B120 was actually badged as the "120Y" and sold as part of the updated 120Y range. It was assembled locally and marketed in New Zealand during the 1980s in two trims: "RoadStar" and "SportStar". It was capable of 49 mpg ‑US (4.8 L/100 km; 59 mpg ‑imp ). B120s were not sold in North America, partly due to

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3552-480: The 160Z. The 140Y sedan received the new A14 engine, while the 140Y station wagon retained the earlier L14 unit. The 160Z appeared in November 1978, with 120 cars built that year, and 121 built in 1979. When introduced in the UK, the 120Y quickly gained popularity, further strengthening Datsun's position, helping it to gain second place amongst foreign imports. The car's popularity was helped by high equipment levels for

3663-568: The 1969 model year run at only nine months. No additional models were added, and production ceased in December 1969, cutting the 1970 model year run at only six months. The Datsun Sunny truck debuted in February 1967 and was the light commercial truck variation of the B10 passenger models. It was based on the VB10 van chassis, and is a body style which is sometimes referred to as a " coupé utility ", as

3774-472: The 2001 Quest received various minor improvements. Styling front and rear was updated, along with new alloy wheels on all models. The entry-level GXE gained a rear stabilizer bar, while the SE received acceleration-sensitive strut valving and a strut tower brace. New interior gauges and fabrics as well as a 130-watt sound system were standard on SE and GLE. Luxury GLE models also received an in-dash six- CD changer and

3885-607: The 4WD model finally appeared, using a larger 2-litre engine and the rear axle from the Nissan Sunny 4WD (B12) . A 4WD model had been planned from the beginning, but the original bodyshell's lack of rigidity made Nissan rethink the concept. The vehicle was launched as the Datsun Prairie in Europe and was rebranded to Nissan along with the rest of the range from 1984, at first featuring "Datsun by Nissan" badging and then solely "Nissan" badging from 1985. However, as Prairie

3996-581: The A10 used in the B10-series Sunny. A five-door station wagon was added to the Sunny range in addition to the three-door wagon. In April 1970 a GX (Grand Luxury) trim with twin-carburetor engine was added for the Japanese market. In January 1972 a minor facelift occurred in the Japanese market with a new hood, grille and other small modifications and equipment fitting. In August 1972 the GX-5 model

4107-797: The American and Canadian markets, the Quest competed with the Chrysler minivans , the Kia Sedona , Toyota Sienna , and the North American Honda Odyssey . The fourth-generation Quest had been built at the Shatai plant in Japan from 2010 until 2016. The Nissan Quest was dropped from regular production in Canada after 2014 and in the United States after the 2016 model year due to declining sales. A shortened 2017 model year

4218-754: The B11 series) were subcompact cars. All Sunnys through the 1982 model year (excepting the L-engined Sunny Excellents) used Nissan A engine motors. It was designed to compete with the Toyota Corolla . The "Sunny" name has been used on other Nissan models, notably various export versions of the Nissan Pulsar model line. The Sunny has been imported and later manufactured worldwide under numerous names, and body styles, in economical, luxury and performance packages. Some configurations appear to be unique based on bodystyle appearances, but sharing

4329-420: The B210 series continued to be produced by Nissan South Africa through 1980. The van models were not replaced until later. The Datsun B210 continued to be the fuel-economy leader in North America and it was one of the least expensive cars available. This was in part due to the light metal; small A13 or A14 engine with OHV technology and a very basic vinyl interior used in its construction. Introduced for 1974 with

4440-563: The B210 was assembled locally from December 1975 until 1983, replacing the previous "Datsun 1200". South African "Y-series" cars, as they were called locally, also featured L14 and L16 engine options, as well as two special editions of B210 coupé, badged as the 140Z and 160Z . The 140Z featured a high performance camshaft, freeflow exhaust and twin 40 mm Dell'orto carburettors, while the 160Z featured twin Hitachi (SU type) carburetors. Both had four-speed transmissions. The standard 120Y has

4551-608: The Fuji 200-mile race on 23 November 1970 in the TS1300 class, a class dominated by the Toyota Corolla ; only one works Nissan challenged Toyota yielding a victory for driver Makoto Suzuki. In Australia and New Zealand, the Datsun 1200 was highly regarded for its effectiveness as a rally car. The Datsun 1600 generally rated highest among entry-level Datsuns, and the 1200 a close second. The 1200 also took road racing victories, such as winning Class A (for cars costing less than AU$ 1960) at

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4662-435: The Japanese model. The engine in the coupé had higher compression, a different Hitachi carburettor, and a dual outlet exhaust manifold. These changes increased its power output to 66 hp (49 kW); a 4 hp, or a 6.5% increase over the lesser models. Unlike the sedans and wagons, the coupé was only ever made in right drive. July 1969 saw the release of the slightly different (cosmetically) 1970 model year , which left

4773-508: The Maxima. Seating was for 7, with a removable 2-seater bench in the middle, allowing the third row bench of 3 seats to slide up (either folded up for more room or down for passengers) behind the front for more rear cargo room. The third row seat was not removable however, and the system was not improved in the 1999 redesign (on which the model was not available in Canada), so newer fold-into-the-floor seats and lightweight buckets quickly eclipsed

4884-768: The Mercury brand as the Villager . Many of the interior parts, including the radio, heater controls and power windows controls were adapted from Ford, and were similar to the Ford Aerostar . This generation of the Quest and Villager was built at Ford's Ohio Assembly plant in Avon Lake, Ohio . The van shared the modified version of the VG30E from the U11, and early J30 Maximas, as well as the 4-speed automatic transmission from

4995-624: The Prairie was later replaced with the taller, more van-like Nissan Serena , while the Nissan Quest replaced both the Axxess and the Nissan Van in North America. In Japan, Nissan stretched the rear of the vehicle to better accommodate third seat passengers and load carrying, calling the vehicle the Prairie Joy and offering the vehicle in August 1995. Conversions offered a raised roof over

5106-466: The Quest were short-wheelbase models co-developed and manufactured with Ford, aside its badge engineered Mercury Villager . For model year 2004 and the third generation (V42), Nissan ended its joint venture with Ford, manufacturing the Quest on its own. For model year 2011, the fourth generation (RE52) became a widened variant of the Nissan Elgrand minivan and was now manufactured in Japan. For

5217-538: The US " Chicken Tax " and partly because perceptions of vehicle size meant that the 620/720 series were considered small pickups. In 1978, in the Japanese market, the B121 model replaced the B120, with the most notable change being a switch to a plastic grille of the type used by the B110 coupé. Also notable was a change to upscale round instrumentation. The B120 was particularly successful in South Africa. In 1977, for instance, it

5328-624: The Van continued to receive the earlier, smaller, A12 engine. The "Excellent" trim package was discontinued as the top level model, and the B211 van continued to be built for a little while longer. In Japan in February 1978 the Sunny Coupé 1400SGX-E and the 1400GX-E appeared, as a replacement for the previous Sunny Excellent Coupé. The "E" denotes multiport fuel injection, an option offered only in Japan. These models appeared with Datsun 120Y , 130Y , 140Y and 150Y badges in some markets (reflecting

5439-471: The bed is not separate from the passenger area. The introduction of a pickup truck based on the Sunny gave Nissan Saito Store and Nissan Cherry Store Japanese dealerships the opportunity to sell a commercial vehicle that was originally only offered at Nissan Store . The 520 series Datsun Truck shared its platform with the Datsun Bluebird , plus the larger Nissan Junior sharing an engine with

5550-624: The carrying capacity of the passenger compartment. The rear tailgate opened upwards as one complete unit, in a similar fashion to a hatchback or station wagon . The Prairie competed with the Toyota Sprinter Carib with a similar wagon approach, Mitsubishi Chariot , and the Honda Shuttle . The Prairie resembled a tall station wagon / estate with the addition of sliding side doors. It was available with five seats, though seven and eight were also available in some markets. It

5661-442: The carryover 1.4 litre A14 engine with 65 hp (48 kW). The automatic wagon (soon all wagons) received the somewhat larger A15 engine with 67 hp (50 kW). New for 1981, the special "210 MPG" model was a small-port A14 (losing three horsepower in the process) with five-speed overdrive transmission and achieved 40 mpg ‑US (5.9 L/100 km; 48 mpg ‑imp ) per US standards. For 1981, this

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5772-701: The codename VX54, with the final designs being chosen in 1989. Prototypes went into initial testing in 1990 at Ford and Nissan test tracks, later real-world testing throughout 1991, with development concluding at the end of that year. On January 6, 1992, the 1993 Nissan Quest was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Unusually, its design patents were subsequently filed by design chief Thomas H. Semple for Nissan Motor on March 5, 1992, rather than in advance of its introduction. The first Nissan Quest rolled off

5883-676: The combination of missing B-pillar and torsion beam rear suspension. Strong understeering characteristics were also typical. The Prairie design was strongly inspired by the Lancia Megagamma concept by Giorgetto Giugiaro and ItalDesign, shown in 1979, and offered Japanese buyers a spacious, flexible passenger/cargo arrangement that complied with Japanese Government dimension regulations and used small displacement engines that offered Japanese buyers options with regards to annual road tax obligations. The first generation Prairies were innovative vehicles - featuring no B-pillar between

5994-773: The company. Although production of the Sunny in Japan ended in 2004, the name remains in use in China and GCC countries for a rebadged version of the Nissan Almera . In North America, the later models were known as the Nissan Sentra ; in Mexico, the Sunny is known as the Nissan Tsuru , which is Japanese for the bird species " crane ". The latest versions of the Sunny were larger than the early models, and may be considered compact cars. Earlier versions (through at least

6105-409: The engine size) though Sunny was increasingly used for export, too. The North American version was marketed as the Datsun 210 . The B310 was known for its high equipment levels and build quality at the time. It was available with the same A-series engines as its predecessor although the B210's optional 63-series five-speed transmission was replaced with the more compact and lighter 60-series unit, with

6216-409: The facelift (larger front lights, larger front indicators with additional side repeat indicators, trim improvements, redesigned rear tail light clusters) onwards the UK model was available either in 1.5 GL, 1.8 SGL or 1.8 SGL Anniversary II specification (featuring two-tone paint, electric front windows, electric steel sliding sunroof, power assisted steering and a dealer applied 'Anniversary II' badge on

6327-402: The floor of the trunk, freeing up more space for luggage. The body was designed to provide fewer moisture traps, helping protect the car against rust, while added width meant additional space, particularly for the rear seat passengers. In October 1979, the B310 was given a mild facelift, with a smoothed off front end, a grille with square headlamps, and a redesigned dashboard. The vans retained

6438-419: The following A-series engines (JIS outputs are for the Japanese market, others indicated): In North America, the Datsun 210 engine line ups were as follows: The 210 was available in North America as a two- or four-door sedan, a five-door wagon (the sloping fastback style), or as a three-door hatchback coupé. At the time of introduction all models, excepting the wagon with the automatic transmission, received

6549-457: The front and rear doors (instead the interlocking front and sliding rear doors locked onto both the floor and roof of the vehicle); front seatbelts mounted on the doors (excluding the US versions) that facilitated a totally unimpeded side entrance; front seats that could be slid all the way to the front of the passenger compartment and fully reclined; rear seats that could not only be folded away conventionally, but could also be reclined fully to make

6660-578: The front grille and the dashboard for the 2007 model. They also moved the DVD player from under the front passenger seat to the instrument panel stack. Production of this generation Quest ended after the 2009 model year, with Nissan stating that the automaker needed room at the Canton plant for production of a commercial vehicle based on the Nissan NV2000 concept. National Sales figures 2003 - 23,170 (From remaining 2002 & 2004 model early sales) 2004 - 46,430 2005 - 40,357 2006 - 31,905 2007 - 28,590 2008 - 18,743 2009 - 8,564 In March 2022,

6771-401: The joint venture three years earlier than had originally been planned. Both the Windstar and Quest replacements were then in initial development and undergoing the design process. As a result, Ford made plans to build a Mercury variant on the Windstar (WIN-96) successor's platform due in 2003 and Nissan on the Altima and Maxima platform. The design by Alfonso Albaisa was chosen in late 2000, with

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6882-434: The larger Nissan Elgrand were also offered on the Liberty. The Liberty saw competition from Toyota and Honda during this generation from the Toyota Ipsum , Mitsubishi Chariot , and the Honda Stream , and was joined with the new, larger Nissan Presage at Nissan Bluebird Store locations. From June 19, 2001, Nissan offered a rear door that swung up electrically, with a platform that extended out for passengers that used

6993-408: The larger 1.6-litre engine, with the more compact A14 engine replacing the L14 and being installed in the regular bodied model (HB211). The Excellent's chassis code changed from PB210 to GB211 and was now considered a trim-level option for the regular B211 rather than as a separate model. Although regular production in Japan as well as sales in most countries ended in late 1977 for the 1978 model year ,

7104-550: The longer Sunny Excellent front sheet-metal, allowing the fitting of the L14 engine. In October 1976, a version of the 140Y with a three-speed automatic transmission appeared, which had a 62 kW (84 PS; 83 hp) engine. During 1978 the Y-series received a facelift, which mostly consisted of a retouched front grille. Datsun-Nissan South Africa also decided to fit the bigger L16 engine. This motor, now with DIN ratings, produced 57 kW (77 PS; 76 hp) in GX specifications and 70 kW (95 PS; 94 hp) in

7215-435: The low-cost 1300 CT and DX models. At the end of 1981 passenger car versions of the B310 were replaced by the front-wheel drive B11 Sunny, although the Vans continued to be built for a few more years. With the end of passenger car production in October 1981, the Van models chassis codes was changed and they became the VB312 series. In North America, the only wagon offered was the fastback version. In Japan, this fastback wagon

7326-715: The lowest powered 68 PS (50 kW) 1.2 to the 95 PS (70 kW) Excellent GX Coupé. Six body styles were offered: the four-door sedan, two-door sedan, two-door fastback , three-door wagon, five-door wagon, and a three-door van. The coupé retained its fastback styling, but now featured a full hatchback door rather than the small trunk lid of the previous generation Sunny. The wagon and van were not offered in North America. In 1975, Japan models were fitted with emission control technology, called Nissan NAPS to be in compliance with Japanese Government emission control regulations enforced that year. The related Sunny Excellents continued until 1976 as PB210 models, at first fitted with

7437-412: The model year, the Sunny Excellent (PB110 series) coupé debuted for the Japanese market. It was based on the B110, but with new hood, fenders and grille, and featured a SOHC 1.4-litre Nissan L engine . The front overhang was extended 130 mm (5.1 in) to accommodate the larger P510 type radiator and the wheelbase by 40 mm (1.6 in). The engine position was retained in the same position as

7548-406: The new 3.3-liter engine, the 1999 Nissan Quest had a 0–60 mph acceleration time of 11.1 seconds. The XE trim was discontinued and the GXE was moved as the base model. Two new trim levels were also introduced: the top-of-the-line GLE and the sport model SE. This Nissan Quest model became the first Nissan minivan with four doors since the 1995 Nissan Axxess . The 2000 Nissan Quest was tested in

7659-490: The oddly styled 120Y successor. In the UK the Datsun 1200 was the first Japanese car to sell in large numbers, being the company's best seller there when its sales soared from just over 6,000 cars in 1971 to more than 30,000 a year later. The 120Y model, launched there in the autumn of 1973, helped take the brand from strength to strength, as did the smaller Cherry models. It was well equipped for its price with disc brakes and reclining front seats. This model established Datsun as

7770-406: The old design, but their chassis codes (unlike the passenger models) changed from 310 to 311 to reflect that they met new emissions standards in place for light commercials. At the end of November 1980 the A12A and A14 engines were replaced by the marginally larger A13 and A15 versions in the Japanese markets (with available fuel injection for the A15). The slow-selling two-door sedan was reduced to

7881-464: The original A-series engine which further assisted the handling even though the engine was heavier. No changes were necessary to the firewall. The PB110 was offered in both GL (single carburetor) and GX models (twin carburetor). The larger PB110 was generally not exported. At the Tokyo Motor Show , 19 October 1972, a Sunny Excellent with Nissan's two-rotor Wankel rotary engine was exhibited, but never entered production. Wheels magazine drove this car on

7992-473: The original bodyshell was too weak, the platform used was upgraded from the smaller Nissan Sunny to the larger Nissan Bluebird . The engines were correspondingly bigger as well. The second generation Prairie lost some of the innovative features that made the first generation standout - the B-pillar was reinstated, the torsion beam rear suspension was replaced with a more conventional coil setup which prevented

8103-499: The passenger side. It was originally launched in Japan with a 1.5- or 1.8-litre Inline-four engine mated to a five-speed gearbox. Another notable addition to the Japanese market's models was an optional column shifted manual. A four-wheel drive version followed later in the car's life. An extensive accessories and options list was available in the Japanese Domestic Market, including a kit that effectively turned

8214-464: The passenger space up to the rear hatch. As of May 1997, anti-lock brakes and driver and front passenger airbags were offered, along with ultraviolet restricting tinted glass. For this generation, the car's name was changed to Nissan Liberty in Japan, while in Hong Kong, it retained the Prairie name. It has rear sliding doors and was available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive . It

8325-476: The passengers accommodates 2 DVD screens with auxiliary input plug, when the VHS shaped IWCC Xl system was discontinued. Also featured in the SE model were side front airbags, curtain airbags for all rows, VSC (Vehicle Stability Control), Traction Control, dual rear power sliding doors and power rear hatch, Bose audio with RDS and folding second row seats, dual climate control, and rear backup sensors. Nissan redesigned

8436-473: The preceding generations, the Quest loosely shared its chassis and powertrain with the Nissan Maxima . Following the decline of minivan sales in North America, Nissan ended sales of the Quest after the 2017 model year. In 1987, Ford and Nissan entered a joint agreement to develop an all-new vehicle to compete in the minivan segment scheduled for 1991. Development officially began later that year under

8547-514: The production line on April 14, 1992 at the Avon, Ohio plant sourced from Japanese production. While assembly took place at Ohio Assembly, initial production began in Japan and later at NMMC that August. NMMC production began in June 1992 on the main body components, with engine assembly beginning in August. The Quest was launched in September 1992 and sold 1,358 units during its first month. The Quest

8658-460: The race track. The B120 commercial truck debuted in February 1971, based on the B110 passenger car chassis. The B120 used the same wheelbase and running gear of the Datsun 1200 sedans, coupé and wagon models. Initially it used the same stainless steel grille as the 1200 sedan, and the rectangular gauges of the Standard model B110s. Both regular (B120) and long-bed (GB120) models were offered. After

8769-542: The rear seats from reclining. The vehicle sold for six years (1990–95) in Canada, but only for the 1990 model year in the United States , as it was replaced by the Nissan Quest . The U.S. version had motorized automatic seatbelts while the Canadian versions had manual belts. North American models only offered the larger 2.4-litre engine. Elsewhere the Prairie came with optional AWD and a 2.0-litre engine. In Europe,

8880-466: The release of the new coupé (KB10). Marketed as the "Sunny Coupé" in Japan, it was available in a wide variety of levels from "Standard", to "GL" ( Grand Luxe ). The range of factory options and accessories was by this time vast. Total horsepower in the 1968 model was claimed to be 62 hp (46 kW) at 6,000 rpm. The engine displacement was kept below 1.0-litre to keep it in the lowest Japanese road tax bracket and encourage sales. It introduced

8991-579: The small displacement engines reduced the annual road tax obligation. The B20 used the same wheelbase and running gear as does the Datsun Sunny VB10 van, and shared its dimensions. The second-generation Nissan Sunny ( B110 ) was launched in January 1970 and was known as the Datsun 1200 in export markets. This new model was slightly larger in all dimensions to match its market rival, the equally popular Toyota Corolla . The two companies continued

9102-591: The styling was given more attention, and Nissan's Autech division punched up its performance image, by offering the Liberty Rider that replaced the Axis trim package. The turbocharged engine was offered in the "Highway Star 4WD" package October 12, 1999, as well as the "Highway Star GT4", also enhanced by Autech. Front wheel drive vehicles were only available with the CVT transmission. Styling and luxury items offered on

9213-520: The system. In 1993, a driver's side airbag was made standard. A passenger airbag was later added in 1995 for the 1996 model year. That year saw the introduction of changes to the front and rear fascias, as well as headlights and tail lamps and the elimination of the motorized shoulder belts. For 1999, the Quest was redesigned at Nissan Design America in San Diego, California , under Diane Allen, during 1993 and 1995. The production design by Shinken Tanaka

9324-532: The tailgate). The Prairie was sold with a 3-year 100,000 mile warranty and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty. The European 1.5 produces 70 PS (51 kW), while the later 2.0 offered 102 PS (75 kW). Four-wheel-drive was introduced along with the larger engine. The second generation of the Prairie was introduced September 1988 and marketed as the Axxess in North America . To meet concerns that

9435-461: The third-generation model arrived in 2003. By the end of this generation, both Honda and Toyota marketed solely long-wheelbase minivans. In 2001, Automotive News reported that 29,232 Nissan Quests were sold, representing a 32% decrease from the previous year. No Quest models were marketed for the 2003 model year. Development began in 1999 on the V42 alongside a proposed Ford replacement. In 2000, decisions were made by Ford and Nissan to abandon

9546-629: The top Japanese exporter of cars to the United Kingdom. In Portugal, Entreposto Comercial assembled the 1200 locally from 1972 until 1974. It was very successful in the Portuguese market, and dominated the local racing and rally scene. The 1200 was so popular in competition that a single-car racing series, the Troféu Datsun 1200 ("Datsun 1200 Trophy"), was instituted and ran for several years. To capitalize on its competition success,

9657-426: The vehicle into a campervan . In January 1985 a facelifted version was introduced, with slightly modified engines. These later cars received a new grille treatment and an entirely redesigned rear end: the bumper was now mounted separately to provide more stability after earlier versions had come under criticism for being much too flexible. This redesign also included taller, flush-fit rear side windows. In September 1985

9768-406: The worst crash tests we've ever seen." He speculated that "a person experiencing this would be lucky to ever walk normally again." Nissan Sunny#B12 The Nissan Sunny ( Japanese : 日産・サニー , Hepburn : Nissan Sanī ) is an automobile built by the Japanese automaker Nissan from 1966 till 2004. In the early 1980s, the brand changed from Datsun to Nissan in line with other models by

9879-426: Was a slow but steady seller, some instrument clusters remained with the Datsun script featuring on the centre of the speedometer. Nissan tried, with partial success, to cover over the script a grey sticker over the plastic fascia of the instruments, rather than on the speedometer itself. The 1.5-litre engine was dropped from the UK market sometime after the 1986 facelift with the 1.8 becoming the sole engine offered. From

9990-565: Was a special edition sedan consisting mostly of appearance parts. Nonetheless, the Honeybee is now considered a collector's car among Datsun enthusiasts. US-market models were fitted with these A-series engines (years given are model years ): A highly modified "ground effect" 120Y fastback coupé is the fastest Datsun/Nissan in the world. Tom Burkland's "411 To Bonneville" held the B/BFCC record at Bonneville from August 1985 to August 2011 with

10101-505: Was a special model called the Sunny California , aimed at private buyers unlike the square-backed 3-and 5-door Sunny Van (although for the Japanese market these vans were always fully glazed and usually had a back seat) meant for the long-standing Japanese commercial wagon market. In most other markets the more traditional two-box wagon was offered, either alone or alongside the fastback, and some countries where "no rear side glass"

10212-401: Was a successor to the Nissan Axxess , which was sold in the United States only in 1990 (ended production in 1989) and in Canada from 1990 to 1995. It also replaced the rear-wheel drive Vanette , also discontinued in 1990. The Quest was initially powered by Nissan's 3.0 L VG30E SOHC engine that made 151 hp (113 kW) and 182 lb⋅ft (247 N⋅m). For a short time, the Quest

10323-631: Was added in Japan, which improved on the GX by fitting a direct-fifth (non-overdrive) five-speed manual transmission. The Sunny Coupé 1200GX was offered as an alternative to the Toyota Corolla Levin and Toyota Sprinter Trueno, which were performance package trim levels on the more economical Corolla and Sprinter models. For the 1973 model year, US models were re-specified with energy-absorbing bumpers, fire-resistant interiors and other government-mandated safety items. The B110 made its racing debut at

10434-410: Was also modified for the Quest and Villager to become a non-interference design: if the timing belt were to break, the pistons wouldn't come in contact with any open valves in the cylinders. The Quest was available as XE or GXE models. Because of manufacturing issues, Nissan had an arrangement for Ford to assemble the minivan in North America , and in turn they were allowed to rebadge it and sell it under

10545-520: Was assembled and marketed locally, about 800 were made. The 1200 was popular in New Zealand, where it was contract-assembled at a two factories (sedans at Campbell Industries in Thames; three-door wagons at Motor Holdings, Waitara). A small number of Deluxe sedans and more numerous coupes were imported from Japan. The car remained in NZ production well into 1974 as Nissan NZ was unsure how the public would react to

10656-554: Was assembled from kits in Melbourne, Australia and boasted disc brakes (although not power assisted), alternator, 4 speed gearbox, radial tyres, radio and mud flaps as standard, most of which were options on other makes. The modest performance and strictly conventional design were offset by excellent fuel economy and a better standard of build. The 120Y was sharply criticized by magazines such as Wheels of Australia, which felt that it offered no true improvement on its predecessor. That

10767-718: Was based on the Nissan Forum concept. The Quest also shared its styling and chassis with the JDM Nissan Elgrand , but is 4.7 in (120 mm) wider. It is powered by Nissan's 3.5L VQ series engine with 260 hp (194 kW). The Quest went on sale in North America in early 2011 as a 2011 model. In Japan, the Elgrand competes with the Toyota Alphard and the Honda Elysion , whereas in

10878-461: Was chosen after having been suggested 3,105 times and was announced on 19 February 1966 by Yoshisuke Ayukawa , Nissan Motors founder. The car featured a four-cylinder in-line engine, the A10, with a total displacement of 988 cc and a four-speed gearbox. The 1968 model, introduced in October 1967, added to the lineup the four-door sedan (B10) in both DeLuxe and Standard form. February 1968 saw

10989-708: Was developed from the Nissan Sunny platform, while using the powertrain from the Nissan Stanza . It was a companion model to the more traditional cabover Nissan Vanette , offering buyers a choice of appearance and flexibility. The trailing arm torsion beam rear suspension was borrowed from the Pulsar Van (VN10; sold as the Cherry Wagon in Europe). Some reviewers commented that when driven hard, undesirable body characteristics were exhibited, possibly due to

11100-606: Was exclusive to Nissan Satio Store , while the Silvia was exclusive to Nissan Prince Store , alongside the Nissan Skyline . B211 is the chassis code for the minor facelift of the B210, introduced in February 1976. It included a changed grille and other minor changes, such as new wing mirrors and hubcaps. The most important differences were under the hood, where the engines had been upgraded to meet Japan's 1976 emissions standards. The Sunny Excellent now only came fitted with

11211-507: Was frozen in 1995 and design patents were filed at the Japan Patent Office on November 2, 1995 under patent #1009611. The exterior was given a more aerodynamic look, and the driver's side sliding door was added (it had been absent in the three-door Quests from 1993 to 1998). The Quest also got a power boost via the 3.3 L VG33E SOHC engine, making 171 hp (128 kW) and 200 lb⋅ft (270 N⋅m) of torque . With

11322-478: Was marketed as a van for commercial use, where it was only available with the lowest-powered 1.2 engine (VB210). The van, in its lowest standard equipment level, came equipped with a three-speed manual gearbox with a column-mounted shift lever. This chassis formed the basis for the S10 underpinning the Nissan Silvia coupé, which allowed Nissan to sell the Sunny Coupé at two Nissan Japanese dealership networks. The Sunny

11433-477: Was not surprising given that the B110 platform was carried over, but used a slightly revised A12 engine. Like some Nissans of this period, it was considered overstyled. In New Zealand and Australia there was also the "Datsun 120Y SSS" limited edition B210, which had minor aesthetic differences to the regular B210 and same engine upgrades as in B110 1200 SSS (twin carbs, camshaft). In the South African market

11544-463: Was part of a legal definition of a "light truck" got panelled-in versions of the three-door. The van versions also differed in that they retained the leaf spring suspension from the B210, and in most markets had a more spartan interior trim with vinyl covered seats. The five-door van was discontinued in November 1982 when the new and even boxier Nissan AD range was introduced. In July 1983, the AD appeared in

11655-494: Was produced only as a fleet vehicle . To promote its release in China , the Quest was used as a free airport escort service vehicle at Beijing Nanyuan Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport for visitors traveling from those airports. Speaking to the results of the 2014 Nissan Quest's small overlap front crash test , Insurance Institute for Highway Safety executive vice president Dave Zuby described it as "one of

11766-795: Was rated the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the United States by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1973, in overall driving pattern. as rated by the government at 28.7 mpg ‑US (8.2 L/100 km; 34.5 mpg ‑imp ) The Sunny, however, was only rated the most fuel efficient as the EPA had not yet tested the Honda Civic . At its United States introduction, it had 69 hp (51 kW) and 70 lb⋅ft (95 N⋅m) of torque. These values dropped in 1972 as various power-sapping anti-smog measures were introduced. In April 1971, halfway through

11877-601: Was replaced with the Nissan Lafesta in 2004. The Nissan Prairie, known in Canada as the Multi and the United States as the Stanza Wagon , was equipped with a four-cylinder engine, with either a manual or automatic transmission . Available with front wheel drive or optional four wheel drive, the vehicle had rear passenger sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle, and a folding rear seat, designed to increase

11988-486: Was sold in Japan in a right hand drive configuration at Nissan Bluebird Store locations, but sales were limited and cancelled after the facelifted version was released in 1996. Ford required that Nissan make some design changes to the VG30E before they would agree to use it in the Villager and Quest. Changes included the addition of an oil level sensor and relocating the oil filter assembly for better access. The engine

12099-408: Was the last Sunny sold under the " Datsun " brand in Japan. The final rear-wheel-drive Sunny from model year 1978 to 1982 featured numerous variants, including a fastback station wagon as well as more squared-off, utilitarian models with three and five doors, a coupé, and two- and four-door sedans. They were first introduced in October 1977, going on sale on 21 November in Japan. The design received

12210-406: Was the most sold commercial vehicle of any type there. It continued in production there long into the 21st century. It received a very mild facelift in 1978, with a new grille and taillight treatment, as well as interior upgrades. In November 1989, an updated B122 and GB122 (longbed) models replaced the B121. Prominent among changes was a switch from round headlights to rectangular ones (along with

12321-511: Was the only RWD bakkie in its class for many years. A long-standing marketing credo was "put the power where the load is". Exported as the Datsun 120Y and Datsun B210 (in North America), the third generation (1973–1978) Sunny was extremely popular as it debuted during the 1973 oil crisis . It was first shown on 1 May 1973 in Japan, as the 1.2 or the 1.4-litre Excellent. Both engines were offered in two different levels of output, from

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