We were actually just looking for pictures of the first one Micra, and then this: Suddenly, we're presented with a rather familiar sight. Namely VW Santana. But under the pictures are names like “M30(1984-1989) 1984 Nissan Santana 2000Xi5 (A/T)","1988 Nissan Santana MEISTERWERK”Or“1985 Nissan Santana 2000Xi5 highway". What was going on there?
Wild confusion Nissan interns in Japan? Or even late an april fools joke? No way. Although he had VW little luck in Europe with their notchback models (think Derby or Vento), these cars were equally successful in other parts of the world. Santana was no exception. In Germany, she struggled with Japanese competition and their own caliber rivals Audi 80 in Audi 100, and slightly more than 200.000 examples rolled off the production line in Europe. However, it is Santana became a hit in other countries as well. It used to be produced simultaneously in nine countries around the world.
Nissan VW Santana 1984 – 1990
However it is VW Santana became legendary in China. This model name was there in the program until the year 2021, although at some point on a brand new car. In 1983, she was the first Santana compiled in-house Shanghai-Volkswagen (now SAIC-Volkswagen) from kits CKD, and in 1985 the company started production. In 1995, it was "santana 2000” upgraded, followed in 2004 by “santana 3000". Popular especially as a taxi, the model was still one of the most produced cars in China in 2010. In China, they produced more than 3.000.000 copies of the “original” VW Santana based on the 1981 model.
Santana are in Brazil produced between the years 1984 in 2006, where it became the most successful car in the upper middle class segment. Santana was also available there with two doors, a version that was never offered in Europe. During autolatine, of strategic cooperation between VW and Ford, Yippee Santana became Ford's Versailles and Royale with styling changes, the first being a four-door sedan and the second a two-door hatchback.
Since February 1984 to 1990 is a model Santana manufactured under license Nissan in Japan. Vehicles were sold there Nissan dealers and were made up of mostly Japanese parts, with logos on them Volkswagen and Audi also Nissan logos. But not on the exterior or the steering wheel. There was always a sign posted there VW. Background: Volkswagen wanted to establish itself on the Japanese market with this cooperation. Takashi Ishihara, the president of Nissan at the time, wanted a comprehensive partnership with Volkswagen and decided to make the model production Santana a good springboard for the Japanese market. Negotiations began in 1981, and in February 1984 Nissan in his factory Zama in Kanagawa started producing the model in Japan Santana as a CKD model. Santana was given an internal model designation M30. The price of the Santana model was significantly lower than the price of the imported Volkswagen model.
A Nissan vehicle Santana was for Japan modified with a wiper system on the right side (parking on the passenger side), which, in addition to a new connecting mechanism, also required a new compression of the engine cover, as there were recesses for wiper plugs on the rear edge. The vehicles he built VW, had, like some other models of this manufacturer at the time, e.g. Golf II, the same wiper pattern for the left side regardless of the position of the steering wheel. At the start of sales, it was Santana available with three different engines: four-cylinder engine with 100 km (74 kW) and 1.781 cm3 (Li, Gi), five-cylinder engine with 110 km (81 kW) and 1.994 cm3 (Gi5, Xi5) and a turbodiesel four-cylinder with 72 km (53 kW) and 1.588 cm3 (Lt, Gt Diesel Turbo). All were equipped as standard with five-speed manual transmission, and gasoline engines were also available with a three-speed automatic transmission.
Santana was 5 mm narrower than its German counterparts to avoid the high Japanese car tax, wider than 1690 mm. Besides, they were radiator grill and headlights unique to the model M30 Santana. A version was added in May 1985 Xi5 Autobahn, which offered velor sports seats, an electric sunroof and 14-inch rims. It was in January 1987 Santana renovated with a new front end and new, larger bumpers. The turbodiesel was discontinued, leaving only petrol-engined versions available. Gi version with the 1,8-liter engine, she now only had 91 km (67 kW), and the Li and Gi5 trim levels have been discontinued.
But he was a model Xi5 Autobahn now available with a new engine as a 2 liter version has appeared five-cylinder DOHC engine with 140 hp (103 kW). Since the original sales target of 4.000 to 5.000 vehicles per month was only achieved in seven years 50.000, is Nissan in October 1989 discontinued production. The sale of the remaining stock continued until May 1990. Instead of renewing the manufacturing license, he Nissan started selling the new third generation Volkswagen Passat through its sales network. When they Volkswagen and Toyota began to cooperate in 1991 (VW Taro), sales of Volkswagen through Nissan dealers have stopped.
VW Santana 1981 – 1985
