Remember the Nissan Primera? It was sold in three generations from 1990 to 2007 and was the Japanese manufacturer's mid-range model in Europe. Primera was also quite successful in Germany, especially in the 2007s. Its presence in the market was later reduced due to the increasing competition in this segment and the appearance of the first SUVs, so from XNUMX it was replaced by the Qashqai, also made in the UK. But how did Primera come about?
The Primera's most direct ancestor is the Primera X Concept, also known as the UV-X. The prototype presented at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show was designed and built with the European market in mind. Nissan is characterized by extremely soft and curved shapes, developed on a 4,52 m long, 1,79 m wide and 1,37 m high body. Due to the special lines, the aerodynamic coefficient is only 0,25, which is one of the lowest in this decade.
There was a lot of technology on board, which at the time still looked quite futuristic. For example, the Nissan was equipped with liquid crystal windows that could be dimmed at the touch of a button, similar to modern electrochromic panoramic sunroofs. The UV-X is also one of the first cars equipped with a reversing camera, the image of which is displayed directly in the rearview mirror. Under the hood is a 2.0 four-cylinder engine with 150 hp and 181 Nm, which allows the concept to reach 230 km/h.
The first generation of the production model, which unfortunately had little in common with the concept vehicle, was sold between 1990 and 1996, and the Primera reached its peak popularity only with the second generation. Nissan's range expanded further and special versions were introduced in different parts of the world. In 1998, for example, the SMX model produced in cooperation with Stillen Sports Parts was introduced in New Zealand. It was a small series with a 2.0 hp 160 petrol engine and a more aggressive body kit.
In the same year, they celebrated victory in the British Touring Car Championship in Great Britain with 400 examples of the GTSE version, which was equipped with Azev alloy wheels, sports seats and a Momo gear lever. In 2001, it was time for the third and final generation, which was also sold with a 2,0bhp 204-litre engine, one of the most powerful units ever fitted to a Primera. It was the swan song of a model that was gradually withdrawn from the market due to the excellent initial sales of the Qashqai.
