The Nissan Laurel is a front-engine, rear-drive two- and four-door sedan manufactured and marketed by
Nissan from 1969 to 2002. Introduced in 1968 as a new model positioned above the 1968
Datsun Bluebird 510, the Laurel offered the luxury of the
Nissan Cedric 130 in a smaller size. In Japan, the Laurel was marketed soley as a Nissan model, rather than a Datsun model.
The first Laurel was developed by the Nissan
Tsurumi R&D Division and assembled at the
Musashimurayama
is a city located in the western side of Tokyo, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 72,021 in 32,234 households, and a population density of 4,700 people per km². The total area of the city is .
Geography
Musashimurayama is located ...
Plant of the former
Prince Motor Company
The Prince Motor Company ( Japanese: ) was an automobile marque from Japan which eventually merged into Nissan in 1966. It began as the Tachikawa Aircraft Company, a manufacturer of various airplanes for the Japanese Army in World War II, e.g. ...
in 2-door and 4-door variants. Released as a Nissan after Prince merged with Nissan, Laurels shared many components and architectures with the
Skyline
A skyline is the outline or shape viewed near the horizon. It can be created by a city’s overall structure, or by human intervention in a rural setting, or in nature that is formed where the sky meets buildings or the land.
City skyline ...
range. The Laurel was not marketed new in Japan at ''Nissan Prince Shop'' locations that sold the Skyline and Gloria, former Prince products. Instead the Laurel was sold at ''
Nissan Motor Shop'' as the junior model to the larger V8-powered
Nissan President
The is a Japanese luxury sedan that manufactured and marketed by Nissan from 1965 to 2010 as a JDM luxury sedan, the flagship of Nissan's range, marketed at its '' Nissan Motor Store'' dealerships.
Initially marketed in the JDM, in the late ...
.
Since 1968, eight generations of Laurel have been manufactured in
Japan. Nissan intermittently listed the Laurel for sale in various
Asia
Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...
n and
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...
an markets (it was also sold in
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
,
Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Co ...
and other South American markets as the Datsun Laurel or Datsun 200l included
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
, starting in the late seventies), and then mostly discontinued the
export
An export in international trade is a good produced in one country that is sold into another country or a service provided in one country for a national or resident of another country. The seller of such goods or the service provider is an ...
of this model from 1989.
The Laurel was cancelled subsequent to Nissan's
alliance with Renault.
__TOC__
First generation (C30; 1968–1972)
In April 1968 Nissan presented its new Laurel in four-door deLuxe and Super deLuxe versions, both equipped with a 1.8 L
inline-four engine
A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the ...
and independent rear suspension. In June 1970 a two-door hardtop coupé joined the lineup, as a junior version of the all-new
Nissan Cedric/Gloria coupe, and one year later a 2000 cc engine became available in the four-door sedan as well. Its competitors at introduction were the
Toyota Corona Mark II
The is a compact, later mid-size sedan manufactured and marketed in Japan by Toyota between 1968 and 2004. Prior to 1972, the model was marketed as the Toyota Corona Mark II. In some export markets, Toyota marketed the vehicle as the Toyota Cre ...
sedan, the
Isuzu Bellel
The Isuzu Bellel is a compact car produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Isuzu from 1961 to 1966. It was the company's first independent design, and also Japan's first passenger car with a diesel engine. It was available as a four-door ...
, and the
Mazda Luce
The Mazda Luce is an executive car that was produced by Mazda in Japan from 1966 until 1991. It was widely exported as the Mazda 929 from 1973 to 1991 as Mazda's largest sedan. Later generations were installed with luxury items and interiors as th ...
which was introduced in 1966. The Laurel did not sell as well as expected, largely because the design was too similar to that of the smaller, cheaper
Bluebird (510) which was developed as a competitor before Nissan bought Prince.
This car was developed by the Nissan
Tsurumi vehicle development team, but the C30 Laurel was fitted with the Prince four-cylinder
SOHC engine, the
G18 of 1,815 cc capacity. Conversely, the GC10
Skyline 2000GT was developed by the former Prince
Ogikubo vehicle development team but was fitted with Nissan's
L20 six-cylinder
The straight-six engine (also referred to as an inline-six engine; abbreviated I6 or L6) is a piston engine with six cylinders arranged in a straight line along the crankshaft. A straight-six engine has perfect primary and secondary engine balan ...
SOHC engine. The suspension is the same four-wheel independent system that was fitted on the C10 Skyline.
The Laurel Hardtop model was equipped with the SOHC 1,990 cc
G20
The G20 or Group of Twenty is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union (EU). It works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigatio ...
-series four-cylinders. The four-door sedan was originally only available with the lesser G18. The
SU twin-carburetted 2000GX received sporty equipment.
August 1970 saw the release of a modified version of the four-door sedan version, now with the same roof angle as that of the hard top. The instrument panel received redesigned panel meters, and the more luxurious GL grade was added.
Second generation (C130; 1972–1977)
In April 1972 the second Laurel generation appeared, again in four-door saloon and two-door hardtop coupé form affectionately known as the ''Butaketsu'' Laurel ("pig butt") because of its ample rear quarter panels and tail section, with the taillights incorporated into the rear bumper. The saloon now was endowed with a rear beam axle and leaf springs, while the coupé clung to independent rear suspension. In addition to the 1.8 and 2.0 L four-cylinder engines, a 2.0 L inline-six was now available, joined, from October, 1973, by a 2.6 L six; the latter was replaced by a 2.8 L six in late 1975. The
G-20
The G20 or Group of Twenty is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union (EU). It works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation, ...
4-cylinder and L20
six-cylinder
The straight-six engine (also referred to as an inline-six engine; abbreviated I6 or L6) is a piston engine with six cylinders arranged in a straight line along the crankshaft. A straight-six engine has perfect primary and secondary engine balan ...
engines were equipped with
SU twin carburetors but were eliminated February 1976 due to emission regulations.
The styling of the coupe appears to be influenced by the 1970
Ford Torino
The Ford Torino is an automobile that was produced by Ford Motor Company, Ford for the North American market between 1968 and 1976. It was a competitor in the mid-size car, intermediate market segment. The car was named after the city of Turin ( ...
and the 1971
Mercury Cougar
Mercury Cougar is a nameplate applied to a diverse series of automobiles sold by the Mercury division of Ford from 1967 to 1997 and from 1999 to 2002. While the nameplate is most commonly associated with two-door coupes, at various times durin ...
, reflecting a popular styling trend during the 1960s and 1970s called "
coke bottle
Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton in Atlant ...
". Sales in Japan (very few were exported) ran to about 96,000 per year, with three-quarters sedans.
[ Motor Magazine International (January 1974), pp. 9-10] The Toyota competitor was the
Mark II
Mark II or Mark 2 often refers to the second version of a product, frequently military hardware. "Mark", meaning "model" or "variant", can be abbreviated "Mk."
Mark II or Mark 2 may refer to:
Military and weaponry
* 16"/50 caliber Mark 2 gun ...
coupé and sedan.
![Datsun 200L sedan (C130) in Norway B+W](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Datsun_200L_sedan_%28C130%29_in_Norway_B%2BW.jpg)
Engines available at the time were the four-cylinder 1815 cc G18 and 1990 cc G20, and the six-cylinder 1998 cc L20. Both the G20 and L20 were available with twin SU carburettors as an option. However, only the G20 equipped cars outwardly announced this with a "Twin Carburettor 2000GX" badge.
In October 1973 the first Laurel with the 2565 cc L26 six-cylinder engine was added and badged as "2600SGL". Since the engine was over two litres, it was not restrained by the
size limits imposed by Japanese regulations, and therefore it was fitted with bigger bumpers than regular Laurels. The installation of the 2.6-litre engine in Japanese models helped identify this generation as a luxury car, as the larger engine obligated Japanese drivers to pay higher amounts of annual
road tax
Road tax, known by various names around the world, is a tax which has to be paid on, or included with, a motorised vehicle to use it on a public road.
National implementations Australia
All states and territories require an annual vehicle registra ...
.
In September 1975, in order to meet the new emissions regulations for that year, the L26 was replaced by the larger yet 2753 cc L28 six-cylinder. By October the carburettors in the L20 were replaced with electronic fuel injection and the engine was now dubbed L20E. Because of the difficulty in meeting the emissions regulations, the twin-carburetted engines were all discontinued. The 1,770 cc L18 replaced the G18 in the lineup.
In February 1976 carburetted 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre engines which met the 1976 emissions regulations were introduced, and were identified with the
Nissan NAPS badge.
Laurel C130-EV
In 1974 Nissan developed an electric passenger sedan based on the Nissan Laurel. The Nissan Laurel C130-EV - referred to as the Datsun 200L-EV in export markets - developed to be used by the VIPs at the 1975 International Oceanographic Exposition in Okinawa.
It was originally engineered by the
Prince Motor Company
The Prince Motor Company ( Japanese: ) was an automobile marque from Japan which eventually merged into Nissan in 1966. It began as the Tachikawa Aircraft Company, a manufacturer of various airplanes for the Japanese Army in World War II, e.g. ...
, but produced by
Nissan when the company assumed Prince operations in 1966.
The C130-EV uses one electric motor, rear-mounted and driving the rear axle through a two-speed automatic transmission. The Nissan Laurel C130-EV has a claimed top speed of
and a range of . Nissan's next electric car venture would be the 1998
Altra.
Third generation (C230; 1977–1980)
The third generation appeared in January 1977. For the first time, the C230 was available in either saloon and hardtop coupé form, but also as a hardtop saloon without B-posts. The hardtop was only available with six-cylinder engines. Buyers could choose between a 1.8-litre four, a 2.0-litre inline-six (carburetted or fuel-injected, a first for the Laurel), a 2.8-litre six, or a 2.0-litre
diesel
Diesel may refer to:
* Diesel engine, an internal combustion engine where ignition is caused by compression
* Diesel fuel, a liquid fuel used in diesel engines
* Diesel locomotive, a railway locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engin ...
four, sourced from
Nissan Diesel
UD Trucks Corporation (UDトラックス株式会社, ''UD Torakkusu Kabushikigaisha'') is a Japanese company whose principal business is the manufacturing and sales of diesel trucks, buses, bus chassis and special-purpose vehicles. Its headquarte ...
as an alternative to the diesel-powered
Toyota Mark II
The is a compact, later mid-size sedan manufactured and marketed in Japan by Toyota between 1968 and 2004. Prior to 1972, the model was marketed as the Toyota Corona Mark II. In some export markets, Toyota marketed the vehicle as the Toyota Cres ...
and the
Isuzu Florian
The Isuzu Florian is an intermediate class car manufactured by Isuzu Motors Ltd. in Japan from November 1967 to 1983. The Florian's body remained essentially the same through its unusually long life cycle, being afforded only two moderate facelif ...
. Transmissions were mainly four- or five-speed manuals or a three-speed automatic, although a three-speed manual with a column shift was also available in the lower spec and commercial versions.
In the autumn of 1978 the C230 received a mild facelift (type C231), marked visually by squared instead of round double headlights. The Toyota competitor was the
Mark II
Mark II or Mark 2 often refers to the second version of a product, frequently military hardware. "Mark", meaning "model" or "variant", can be abbreviated "Mk."
Mark II or Mark 2 may refer to:
Military and weaponry
* 16"/50 caliber Mark 2 gun ...
coupé and sedan. Again, comfort was prioritized over handling and agility.
![1978 Nissan Laurel SGL (9566791813)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/1978_Nissan_Laurel_SGL_%289566791813%29.jpg)
One year later (January 1978) Nissan released a tenth anniversary edition, which adopted a special deep red body color known as "Laurel's Crimson", as well as trim-specific emblems, aluminum wheels and front grille. In 1979 the 2.4-litre L24 engine was added to the lineup.
European outputs were DIN for the 2.0 and the 2.4 inline-sixes. European buyers were attracted to the Laurel for its overall reliability, low price, and ample equipment.
Datsun-Nissan South Africa also developed a two-litre four-cylinder option not offered elsewhere to suit local needs with a lower-cost, torquier engine than the two-litre six sold elsewhere. The
L20B engine offered and was paired with somewhat lower equipment than the 280L sold alongside it.
November 1978 brought minor changes to the Laurel, including squaring off of the front headlights. The highest trim level, "Medalist", received air conditioning in addition to its OHC four-cylinder two-litre diesel engine. The 1800 cc cars switched to the newer Z18 crossflow engine and all Laurels now met the Showa 53 (1979) gasoline vehicle emission regulations.
Later, in October 1979, a two-litre four-cylinder gasoline option (Z20-series) was added in several markets. Also new were the options of automatic transmission and the SGL equipment grade on diesel vehicles.
![1979 Datsun Laurel 200L](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/1979_Datsun_Laurel_200L.jpg)
In February 1980 an electric sunroof was added to the hardtop version of the Medalist. This was the first year in which a sunroof was a model option.
In July 1980 a special limited edition "gold medalist" top-of-the-line trim was released.
Fourth generation (C31; 1980–1984)
The C31 model, introduced in November 1980, was the first model that was only available in a four-door form, either as a
sedan or
hardtop. Engines for the C31 were 1.8-liter, 2.0-liter L20, 2.4-liter L24 gasoline, and 2.8-liter diesel. The coupé was replaced by the new
Nissan Leopard F30. The Toyota competitor was the
Cresta hardtop and the
Chaser sedan. November 1982 saw the introduction of the Limited "Givenchy Version" with
Hubert de Givenchy
Count Hubert James Marcel Taffin de Givenchy (; 21 February 1927 – 10 March 2018) was a French aristocrat and fashion designer who founded the luxury fashion and perfume house of Givenchy in 1952. He is famous for having designed much of the ...
doing the TV commercials in Japan, borrowing a marketing concept for an American luxury coupe, the
Lincoln Continental Mark IV
The Continental Mark IV is a personal luxury car that was marketed by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company from the 1972 to 1976 model years. The third generation of the Mark series, the Mark IV grew in size over its Continental Mark II ...
. In 1981, the
Nissan Laurel Spirit was offered as a smaller alternative to the Laurel, while still offering the luxury content of the larger car.
![1981 Datsun Laurel 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/1981_Datsun_Laurel_2.4_Hardtop.jpg)
Development Supervisor, Itirou Makoto Sakurai, was in charge of developing the Laurel together with the Skyline. The Laurel's redesign was carried out in a European style and tone. The coefficient of drag (Cd value) of the four-door hardtop is 0.38. The lowest-priced Z18 is a four-cylinder engine, as is the 2-litre Z20. The L20-series are inline-six cylinder models, also available in fuel injected L20E type, and as the turbocharged L20ET - the first turbocharged Laurel. On top of the lineup was the 2.8-litre L28E, and for some export markets the 2.4-litre L24 engine (usually carburetted) was also offered. Mostly for commercial use there was the four-cylinder LD20 diesel engine, while private users usually preferred the larger six-cylinder LD28 type which was also available with much better equipment.
In February 1981 the GX trim level was added. L20E sedan with independent rear suspension in the vehicle suspension formula (a six-link independent rear suspension was equipped as standard on the turbocharged cars). In November 1981 the car received some improvement and the Turbo Medalist model was new to the lineup.
In September 1982 there was a minor change. Up a sense of luxury and large-scale extrusion in the chrome bumpers and rear license plate holder. The tail lamp design was changed as well. Instead of the Z18 series engine, the new OHC four-cylinder 1809 cc CA18S engine was fitted to the Laurel 1.8. The engine range was overhauled at the time and now included the CA18S, L20E, turbocharged L20ET, the four-cylinder SOHC Z20S, and the diesel LD20 and LD28-6 models. The carburetted L20, the L28E, and the column-shifted LD20 (six-seater) were discontinued. The six-cylinder gasoline-powered car with automatic transmission and Super Touring equipment received an overdrive gear at the same time.
In November 1982 the Givenchy limited version was released. In February 1983 the "50 Special" released. In March the Givenchy II version went on sale. In May another 50 Special II vehicles were launched. In July electrically retractable fender and door mirrors were introduced, a first. In October, taxi and driver instruction vehicles with an OHC LPG four-cylinder engine (Z18P, Standard or GL equipment) were added. SGL Grand Touring car (with a hubcap for Medalist colored bumper and large) and 50 Special Release III.
January 1984 saw the abolition of the 1.8-litre GL models, while the Givenchy III limited edition also went on sale.
![1982 Datsun Laurel 2400 (1)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/1982_Datsun_Laurel_2400_%281%29.jpg)
European export models received the carburetted 2.0 (DX or SGL trim) and 2.4 inline-sixes (SGL), with and respectively, or with the large 2.8 diesel with .
A fuel injected 2.4 with later appeared for some markets.
The 2.4-liter six only developed in Swedish-market petrol cars as a result of that country's stringent emissions standards.
As large Japanese cars are not very popular with private buyers in Europe, the diesel saw the lion's share of sales, mainly for taxi usage. Fitted with a detuned version of the L24 engine, the Laurel was introduced to the Middle Eastern (mainly Saudi) market in 1982.
Fifth generation (C32; 1984–1989)
In October 1984 the C32 Laurel was released. Osamu Ito, Development Supervisor of the R31/32 Skyline, was assigned to redesign the Laurel. He saw the car needed significant changes, and set about doing so. Some of the Laurel's new features included a 4-door sedan body, variations in the hardtop, an angular design (including a strong push), and the world's first electric retractable door mirrors. The C32 was the last model to be sold in Europe, where the Laurel was replaced by the
Nissan Maxima
The Nissan Maxima is a full-size car manufactured and marketed by Nissan and offered as Nissan's flagship sedan primarily in North America, the Middle East, and China — and currently in its eighth generation. Having debuted for model year ...
which was not available as a diesel and had a sportier, more luxurious air. The Laurel was often used as a taxi in Germany.
The C32 were fitted with a variety of gasoline engines, inline-fours and V6 engines ranging from 1.8 to 3.0 liters. Some engines, like the
L24 and the electronically carburetted
VG30S were reserved for export. The C32 Laurel also came with the
LD28 diesel. In 1987 there were a minor facelift which basically were bigger bumpers, new grilles, and new lights in the front and back. The
LD28 diesel engine were swapped out in favor of the similarly dimensioned
RD28. This generation was the first Laurel to be equipped with a
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a six-cylinder piston engine where the cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration.
The first V6 engines were designed and produced independently by Marmon Motor Car Company, Deutz Gasmotoren Fabr ...
.
The styling of the Nissan Laurel began to resemble the larger
Nissan Cedric and
Nissan Gloria
The Gloria ( ja, 日産・グロリア) is a large luxury car made from 1959 by the Prince Motor Company, and later by Nissan Motors since its merger with the former - hence being originally marketed as Prince Gloria and later as Nissan Gloria. ...
but on a slightly smaller platform, with
reduced tax liability based on the vehicles dimensions. The Toyota competitor was the
Cresta hardtop and the
Chaser sedan, and in 1986 the
Honda Vigor
The is a premium sedan that was derived from the Honda Accord. It was sold in Japan through the '' Honda Verno'' dealer network from 1981 until 1995, and sold in North America from June 1991 (model year 1992) until 1994 as the Acura Vigor. Early ...
.
The RB20E engine was equipped with six-cylinder series SOHC2.0L, VG20ET-SOHC2.0L
V6 turbo, CA18S-series four-cylinder (LPG and specifications), LD28-series 6-cylinder diesel SOHC2.8L. The car's system also integrated a C32 steering rack and adopted a rack-and-pinion type.
In May 1985, the Grand Extra Limited edition was released. Detail improvements were made in October 1985 and January 1986.
In October 1986 there were mechanical changes along with significant modifications to the exterior. There was a new turbocharged DOHC engine, the 2.0-liter RB20DET 24-valve six-cylinder, while the LD28 diesel engine was replaced by the new RD28-series six-cylinder diesel engine.
In May 1987 the "Grande Extra White Special" edition was release. In August of the same year, the Grande Touring Limited was added to lineup.
In February 1988 there was an improved and some 20 releases Super medalist anniversary special edition. In May 1988, the "White Limited" model was released. In September of the same year, the Super Series Selection was added to the lineup. In December private car and driving school versions were discontinued, leaving only taxis and other commercial models. In January 1989 Laurels with an automatic gearbox received a shift lock.
The taxi/commercial versions of the fifth generation were finally discontinued in July 1993, when they were replaced by the
Nissan Crew.
File:NISSAN Laurel C32 rear.jpg, Rear view of fifth generation Laurel (pre-facelift)
File:C32 Nissan Laurel HardTop Medalist Rear 04711.jpg, Nissan Laurel HardTop Medalist (facelift, rear view; JDM)
File:Nissan Laurel C32 2393cc first reg November 1988.JPG, Nissan Laurel Sedan (facelift; UK)
Sixth generation (C33; 1989–1993)
In December 1988, the C33 Laurel was announced. A month later, in January 1989, the C33 went on sale, originally only available as a hardtop four-door. The base engine offering again was a 1.8-litre four, the available options consisted of a 2-litre six (SOHC, DOHC or DOHC Turbo) and a 2.8-litre diesel inline-six. Early in 1991 a DOHC 2.5-litre inline-six coupled to a five-speed
automatic became available.
![NISSAN Laurel rear](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/NISSAN_Laurel_rear.jpg)
The
Nissan Laurel used a
rear-wheel drive
Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, in which the engine drives the rear wheels only. Until the late 20th century, rear-wheel drive was the most common configuration for cars.
Most rear-wheel ...
layout, making it a popular car to modify for drifting use. The C33 in particular is very popular as a drift car, because it has the same floor plan as the
Nissan A31 Cefiro and the four-door
Nissan Skyline R32
The is a brand of automobile originally produced by the Prince Motor Company starting in 1957, and then by Nissan after the two companies merged in 1967. After the merger, the Skyline and its larger counterpart, the Nissan Gloria, were sold in ...
. They also have many interchangeable parts which makes them ideal for modification. Suspension parts are identical to the Nissan Silvia S13 model.
The Toyota competitor was the
Cresta, and there was also the new
Honda Inspire
The is a mid-size sedan introduced by Honda in 1990 derived from Honda Accord chassis. The first Inspire debuted in 1990 as the Accord Inspire, a sister nameplate to the Honda Vigor, but sold at different retail channels in Japan, known as '' ...
in the same segment. The Laurel was repositioned slightly higher as a larger luxury sedan, as its exterior dimensions matched with the more senior
Nissan Cedric and
Nissan Gloria
The Gloria ( ja, 日産・グロリア) is a large luxury car made from 1959 by the Prince Motor Company, and later by Nissan Motors since its merger with the former - hence being originally marketed as Prince Gloria and later as Nissan Gloria. ...
which were exclusive to separate Japanese Nissan dealerships (''Nissan Bluebird'' for the Cedric, ''Nissan Prince'' for the Gloria). The Laurel was exclusive to Japanese dealership ''
Nissan Motor Store
, trading as Nissan Motor Corporation and often shortened to Nissan, is a Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Japan. The company sells its vehicles under the Nissan, Infiniti, and Datsun brands, ...
'' locations.
Trim levels included the Medalist, Medalist Club S and Gran Limited. The Club S was the only C33 Laurel with the RB25DE option and a front lip spoiler, with other models offering only the RB20, CA18, and RD28 engines.
V6 engines were no longer available; instead, the RB20E type (SOHC), RB20DE type (DOHC), RB20DET type (single turbo DOHC) series 6-cylinder 2.0L, CA18i series four-cylinder SOHC1.8L and RD28-series six-cylinder diesel engines were offered. In addition to this, the improved HICAS-II suspension configuration was used. Four-cylinder model (CA18i) series and six-cylinder diesel engine (RD28) in the presence and instruction car specifications.
In January 1991, the Laurel was facelifted and a new RB20E/RB20DE-powered 5-speed AT model crept into the range. Also in November 1991, 3-series cars RB25DE Catalogue DOHC2.5L add a grade-six-cylinder engine. 2.5L existing and additional models equipped with previous-generations high-mount side lamp, side-door airbags. Organizing models in the senior grades.
In the
North American market, this was only sold in parts of the
Caribbean, primarily the
Bahamas
The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to 88% of the ar ...
under the
Nissan Laurel Altima. However, the
Altima name was first used in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
&
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
starting in the 1993 model year for its new
compact car
Compact car is a vehicle size class — predominantly used in North America — that sits between subcompact cars and mid-size cars. "Small family car" is a British term and a part of the C-segment in the European car classification. However, ...
, which has since become a
mid-size
Mid-size—also known as intermediate—is a vehicle size class which originated in the United States and is used for cars larger than compact cars and smaller than full-size cars. "Large family car" is a UK term and a part of the D-segment in ...
in 2002.
By January 1992 cumulative production achieved 2 million units.
Seventh generation (C34; 1993–1997)
The new Laurel C34 was released in January 1993. To meet stricter side impact legislation it was no longer available in a pillarless hardtop sedan configuration; the single body style offered was a regular saloon with B-posts. Gone as well was the four-cylinder engine. Available engines included a 2.0 L six (SOHC or DOHC), a 2.5 L DOHC six, and a 2.8 L diesel six. The diesel engine now had three valves per cylinder, for a total of 18. A wider and longer body meant that there was no longer a compact sedan version on offer. Under Japanese
vehicle classification regulations all Laurels were now in the large car category due to vehicle length and width were no longer in compliance, even those models with engines displacing less than 2000 cc. Japanese owners were now liable for additional taxes paid yearly in addition to standard registration, road tax, and inspection costs. Large cars have a leading "3" at the top of the
license plate
A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate (British English), license plate (American English), or licence plate (Canadian English), is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identificatio ...
, while compact cars have a "5". Manufacturing was transferred to the Murayama plant. The smaller Laurel Spirit was replaced by the all-new
Nissan Presea
The is a compact car, produced for the Asian market from 1990 to 2000. It competed with the entry level luxury 4-door hardtop sedans that were popular in Japan during the 1990s, notably the Toyota Corolla Ceres, the Toyota Sprinter Marino, the ...
.
Some of the later models featured more sophistication such as Nissan's proprietary 4-wheel steering (
HICAS HICAS ''/hīkas/'' (High Capacity Actively Controlled Steering) is Nissan's rear wheel steering system found on cars ranging from the more recent Skyline and Fairlady Z (300ZX) iterations to smaller models like the Nissan Cefiro (A31), 240SX/ Sil ...
) and 4-wheel drive (
ATTESA
ATTESA (acronym for Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All-Terrain) is a four-wheel drive system used in some automobiles produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan, including some models under its luxury marque Infiniti.
The 'mech ...
) systems, which were taken from the
Skyline
A skyline is the outline or shape viewed near the horizon. It can be created by a city’s overall structure, or by human intervention in a rural setting, or in nature that is formed where the sky meets buildings or the land.
City skyline ...
models. The Laurel also offered ASCD (auto speed control) with steering wheel switches on the top-of-the-line Medalist VG Selection. The S Club has electrical Super HICAS and ABS brakes. A 5-speed manual transmission was only available in the Medalist diesel version, with no manually shifted gasoline cars offered. Diesels and single-cam gasoline cars received four-speed automatics; more powerful gasoline cars all got a five-speed automatic. To add a European luxury feel, the door handle design was changed to a pull-type.
In May 1993 an RB20E-engined Club S was added, as the 2.5-only Club S was not a strong seller. In July and August 1993 special editions were launched to celebrate Nissan's 60th anniversary, the Medalist S 60th Anniversary and the Club SJ 60th Anniversary respectively.
![Nissan Laurel 002](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Nissan_Laurel_002.JPG)
January 1994 saw a mid-life facelift for the C34 Laurel. Medalist versions received a center grille finisher, while the Club S received a sportier looking grille and an exclusive front bumper design, necessitating other minor changes around the front end. Medalist and Club S specifications were more differentiated than before. The Club S also received a new engine, the turbocharged 24-valve DOHC RB25DET straight-six, while the 24-valve RB20DE model was discontinued. The turbo version received a four-speed automatic, as the engine produces too much torque for the five-speed JATCO RE5R01A. The new Club S Type X was a more expensive version, while the regular Club S received a few downgrades, such as a Premium Tricot interior rather than the earlier Ultrasuede which was now only a cost option on the Type X. The Medalist J and the basic Grand Cruise model were replaced by the Medalist L and the Grand Saloon. Minor cost cutting led to Medalists using wheel trims shared with other Nissan automobiles, while the stereo head was changed from a Laurel-only dedicated size to a
single DIN regular format.
![Nissan-Laurel25MedalistCellenciarear](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Nissan-Laurel25MedalistCellenciarear.JPG)
The Laurel underwent a minor change in September 1994, with a significant rear end redesign. Front end design remained largely untouched, while a driver's SRS airbag became standard fitment across the board. New was the first four-wheel-drive Laurel, and a Medalist Turbo model. The Medalist Turbo received the same sporty-looking front end as the Club S. In January 1995 a new well-equipped submodel appeared, the Club S Selection. In September 1995 another special edition appeared, the 20E-engined Medalist Dual Limited.
A final update took place in May 1996. The steering wheel design was changed and a passenger airbag became standard. More special editions also appeared, in the form of the "Cellencia" which received dedicated seat fabric and a unique grille, as well as tinted window glass. In February 1997, the ABS-equipped Cellencia SV and Cellencia Medalist SV appeared. Production ended in May 1997 with sales continuing from stock until the eighth generation Laurel replaced it.
Eighth generation (C35; 1997–2002)
![1997-1999 NISSAN Laurel rear](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/1997-1999_NISSAN_Laurel_rear.jpg)
The eighth and last generation debuted in June 1997. The number of available models was further reduced; the models had a DOHC two-liter engine, a 2.5 L six, or a 2.8 L diesel six. In late 2002 Laurel production was ended. The competitors were the
Toyota Cresta
The is a mid-size car built by Toyota. It was launched in 1980 and shared the chassis with the Mark II/Cressida, sold at ''Toyopet Store'' dealerships in Japan. The goal of the Cresta was a higher level of luxury in comparison to the Mark II, ...
and the
Honda Inspire
The is a mid-size sedan introduced by Honda in 1990 derived from Honda Accord chassis. The first Inspire debuted in 1990 as the Accord Inspire, a sister nameplate to the Honda Vigor, but sold at different retail channels in Japan, known as '' ...
. In this generation, no
manual transmission
A manual transmission (MT), also known as manual gearbox, standard transmission (in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States), or stick shift (in the United States), is a multi-speed motor vehicle transmission system, where gear change ...
was offered anymore. It was replaced in 2003 by the
Nissan Teana
The is a mid-size sedan produced by Japanese automobile manufacturer Nissan. It was exported as the Nissan Maxima and Nissan Cefiro to certain markets. It replaces the Nissan Bluebird, Laurel and Cefiro. It shares a platform with the Nissan ...
.
See also
*
Nissan Laurel Spirit
*
Nissan Skyline
The is a brand of automobile originally produced by the Prince Motor Company starting in 1957, and then by Nissan after the two companies merged in 1967. After the merger, the Skyline and its larger counterpart, the Nissan Gloria, were sold i ...
- sister car
*
Nissan Cefiro
The is a front-engine, five passenger, mid-size passenger car manufactured and marketed by Nissan Motors over three generations. Almost all Cefiro's were marketed as four-door sedans, though a five-door wagon body style was briefly available (19 ...
*
Nissan Teana
The is a mid-size sedan produced by Japanese automobile manufacturer Nissan. It was exported as the Nissan Maxima and Nissan Cefiro to certain markets. It replaces the Nissan Bluebird, Laurel and Cefiro. It shares a platform with the Nissan ...
- successor
*
Toyota Mark II
The is a compact, later mid-size sedan manufactured and marketed in Japan by Toyota between 1968 and 2004. Prior to 1972, the model was marketed as the Toyota Corona Mark II. In some export markets, Toyota marketed the vehicle as the Toyota Cres ...
- competing model
*
Nissan Note
The is a supermini/ subcompact hatchback or a mini MPV manufactured and marketed worldwide by Nissan. Introduced in 2004, the first-generation Note was primarily marketed in Japan and Europe, and was produced in Japan and the United Kingdom. The ...
- the second-generation top version has reintroduced the "Medalist" badge
References
* ''Automobil Revue'', catalogue editions 1969, 1973, 1975, 1979, 2001.
External links
Nissan Heritage CollectionNissan Laurel Club in Russian
{{nissan
Laurel
Laurel may refer to:
Plants
* Lauraceae, the laurel family
* Laurel (plant), including a list of trees and plants known as laurel
People
* Laurel (given name), people with the given name
* Laurel (surname), people with the surname
* Laurel (mus ...
All-wheel-drive vehicles
Luxury vehicles
Vehicles with four-wheel steering
Cars introduced in 1968
Rear-wheel-drive vehicles
Production electric cars
Laurel
Laurel may refer to:
Plants
* Lauraceae, the laurel family
* Laurel (plant), including a list of trees and plants known as laurel
People
* Laurel (given name), people with the given name
* Laurel (surname), people with the surname
* Laurel (mus ...
Electric cars
1970s cars
1980s cars
1990s cars
2000s cars