Nissan Laurel

The Nissan Laurel is one of the spring of 1968 produced by the end of 2002, eight generations of the vehicle upper middle class of the Japanese car manufacturer Nissan. It was originally developed by Prince and came after the Prince takeover by Nissan as Nissan to market.

Some Laurel generations were exported in the 1970s and 1980s as the Datsun Laurel Datsun 1800 or later, as well as Nissan Laurel to Europe.

Laurel (C30 ), 1968-1972

Nissan Laurel C30

In April 1968 the new Nissan technically related to the also developed by Prince Nissan Skyline Laurel presented in the versions de Luxe and Super de Luxe as a four-door sedan with a 1.8 - liter four-cylinder engine and rear independent suspension. In the summer of 1970 was added a two-door hardtop coupe, in the summer of 1971, a two-liter engine.

Laurel ( C130 ), 1972-1977

Nissan Laurel C130 hardtop

In April 1972, the second Laurel generation appeared, again as a four-door sedan and two-door hardtop coupe. The sedan now had a leaf-sprung rigid rear axle, the coupé was still independently suspended rear wheels. Among the well-known four-cylinder 1.8 and 2.0 liter engine was added in a two-liter six-cylinder. As of October 1973, there was also a 2.6 - liter inline six- cylinder that was replaced in late 1975 by a 2.8-liter.

Laurel ( C230/C231 ), 1977-1980

Nissan Laurel C231

In January 1977, the next model change. The Laurel was first offered as a four-door hardtop sedan pillar -less; the regular sedan and the coupe remained available. Propulsion is ensured either a 1.8 -liter four- cylinder, two-liter inline six- cylinder with carburetors or fuel injection, a 2.8 -liter six- cylinder or a two-liter diesel four-cylinder. In the fall of 1978, the Laurel received in the course of a Faceliftes square instead of round double headlights.

This Laurel was offered with some success in Germany. From the IAA 1977, the Laurel was at prices 14490-15490 DM with two-liter inline six- cylinder (71 kW/96 hp) with rich equipment offered under the name Datsun 200 L as a sedan and coupe. These early models were visually Germany - the Laurel C230 and wore round twin headlights. In May 1979, the 200 L was replaced by the Datsun Laurel C231 series (square twin headlights ), that of the 2.4 -liter six-cylinder engine known from the Datsun 240K GT and the Datsun 240Z (here with 83 kw/113 PS) was driven. Further still existed, the terms " Laurel 180L/200L/240L/280L ".

Laurel ( C31 ), 1980-1984

Nissan Laurel C31

Also introduced in November 1980 Laurel Series C31 came across as cheaper six-cylinder car in Europe to a certain resonance. The new body with three side windows and slanted front end was similar to the Opel Senator. Base engine was still the 1.8 - liter four-cylinder, also ranked a two- liter four- cylinder, two-liter six-cylinder (also called turbo available), a 2.4 -liter straight six-cylinder and diesel engines of 2.0 and 2.8 liters of displacement. The coupe was omitted in the program were four-door sedans with or without B-pillars.

In Germany the Laurel C31 was in May 1981 under the brand name Datsun with a six -cylinder gasoline engines (2 or 2.4 liters, 71-83 kW/96 hp to 113 ) or the 2.8 -liter diesel (60 kW/82 hp ) sold; prices amounted initially between 16895-21095 DM

In the fall of 1983, accounted for the two-liter, the performance of the 2.4 - liter was increased to 88 kW/120 hp, while the company was renamed Nissan Laurel. In combination with the 2.4 -liter gasoline engine and the 2.8 -liter diesel with a higher quality equipment, among other power windows on all four doors, central locking, power steering, headlight wiper washer system and high-quality velor seat upholstery was made compulsory supplied. For an additional charge there, even for the diesel, a three-stage ( 1983: 4-speed ) automatic transmission and an electric steel sunroof and metallic paint. Alloy wheels and air conditioning could be desired by the dealer with Originaltteilen from Japan, where there were these facilities has been factory retrofitted.

At this time, the 2.8- liter six -cylinder diesel was in Germany in this class both price and equipped than an absolute exception. Only BMW ( 524D ) and Volvo ( 240/244/245 diesel ) could offer a similar engine, but at considerably higher prices. At Mercedes- Benz it was in terms of performance, although the comparable engine in the 300D W123 with 65 kW/88 hp, but "only" as a 5- cylinder ( even in a turbo variant with 92 kW/125 hp), but in Germany only as automatic version in W123 combi was offered. A six- cylinder version of this engine would not fit into the existing body. A newly developed six-cylinder diesel was therefore only be offered later in the series as 300D/300D W124 Turbo Diesel.

The Performance / fuel consumption of the C31 were the 2.4 -liter six - cylinder petrol engine with 5 -speed manual transmission at about 172 km / h and 12.5 l/100 km regular gasoline (3- speed automatic: 165 km / h, 13.5 l/100 km, 4 - speed automatic: 165 km / h, at about 12.8 l/100 km). The 2.8 - liter diesel with 5 -speed manual transmission reached 160 km / h with about 9.0 l/100 km diesel fuel (3- speed automatic: 155 km / h in about 9.5 l/100 km, with the later available 4- speed automatic: 155 km / h in about 9.2 l/100 km ) the 4- speed automatic transmission introduced in addition to a lower consumption of both the petrol and the diesel a substantial noise reduction at lower engine speeds with what the comfort improved noticeably. The top version of the Laurel C 31 kW/155 PS 114 made ​​.

Laurel (C32 ), 1984-1989

Nissan Laurel C32

The presented in October 1984 the Laurel C32 series has been emphasized by Osamu Ito designed edged and was the last Laurel, has been exported to a greater extent. Again, four-door sedans and hardtop sedans were offered exclusively. In C32, there was the 1.8 - liter four-cylinder, six-cylinder engines of 2.0, 2.4 and 3.0 liters and the 2.8-liter V6 diesel engine. The 2.4-liter V6 engine with 94 kW ( 128 hp) in the Nissan Laurel GL reached 190 km / h From 0 to 100km / h, this variant of the Laurels accelerated within 10.8 seconds. The Nissan Laurel SGX had a 3.0-liter VG30E or VG30S V6 engine with 109 kW ( 148 hp ) or 115 kW ( 156 hp ) at 5200 rpm, the 1380 kg heavy sedan over 200 km / h reached. The maximum torque was 230 Nm. The consumption of the 3.0-liter 6- cylinder was on average 11.4 liters. The most motorized Laurel C32 had a 2.0 - liter inline six- cylinder turbo engine ( RB20DET ) with 129 kW (175 hp).

In early 1986 the Laurel C32 appeared in Germany. The choice was between the well-known 2.4 - liter inline six- cylinder, now with fuel injection and 94 kW ( 128 hp) and the 2.8- liter diesel with power initially unchanged, then with 66 kW (90 hp). The prices amounted to 23,795 at launch DM ( petrol ) and 25,695 DM ( diesel). The standard equipment among other things, contained an electrically controlled steel sunroof, power steering, central locking, two electrically adjustable door mirrors, height adjustable driver's seats, a headlight wiper system and a 5-speed transmission, an additional charge, a 4- speed automatic transmission. Alternatively, it was also the possibility for an air conditioner. The Nissan Laurel 3.0 SGX V6 also had an electronic vehicle stabilization system, a voice warning system, height control, a standard air conditioning, heated seats, cruise control, an electrically controlled ventilation, and an alarm system. Also, there was the version of the Laurel 3.0 SGX with catalyst.

In 1987 the Laurel C32 a facelift with changes to bumpers, headlights and tail lights, but was available in Germany only as a diesel. The Nissan Laurel was also often used in Germany as a taxi.

Successor to the European market was from the beginning of 1989, the Nissan Maxima, which, however, did not reach the popularity of Laurel.

Laurel ( C33 ), 1989-1993

Nissan Laurel C33

In January 1989 the Laurel C33, which there was again a four-door sedan and hardtop sedan debuted. Still served the 1.8 - liter four-cylinder as the base engine, in addition, there was a two-liter six-cylinder with one or two overhead camshafts and a DOHC turbo engine, also known six-cylinder diesel engine with 2.8 liter displacement. Beginning of 1991 was also a 2.5-liter DOHC inline six- cylinder with five- speed automatic transmission to offer. The engines now contributed up to 151 kW/205 hp.

Laurel ( C34 ), 1993-1997

Nissan Laurel C34

With the presented in January 1993 Laurel C34 eliminated the hardtop sedan; only body style offered was now the usual B -pillar sedan. Even the four-cylinder accounted for; was offered the two-liter six-cylinder in two versions ( SOHC and DOHC), the DOHC -2 ,5 -liter and the 2.8- liter diesel engine. The top version of the C34 Laurel RB25DET had a machine with 173 kW/235 hp.

Laurel ( C35 ), 1997-2002

Nissan Laurel C35

In June 1997, the eighth and last Nissan Laurel premiere. The offer was further thinned out and only included variants with the DOHC two-liter, 2.5 -liter gasoline engine and the 2.8 -liter diesel. The performance of the sedan was up to 206 kW/280 hp. End of 2002, Laurel was taken out of production. In 2003, he was replaced by the Nissan Teana production time after 34 years.

Swell

• Automobile review, catalog numbers 1969, 1973, 1979, 1982, 1987, 1998, 2000.
• Joachim Kuch: Japanese cars. Engine book publishing house, Stuttgart 1990, ISBN 3-613-01365-7, pp. 191-195.