In the vast firmament of the automotive industry, Nissan Motor, with its series of classic car models, shines with a unique and enduring radiance. These star products not only carry the brand essence of Nissan but also have led the trends in the automotive industry at different times, writing their own glorious chapters.
Dating back to 1933, Nissan launched the Datsun 12 - type car, which can be regarded as an early star product of Nissan. At that time, the global automotive market was highly competitive, and the Japanese domestic automotive industry was still groping its way forward with great difficulty. The R & D team of the Datsun 12 - type car faced numerous challenges. On the one hand, they had to break through technological bottlenecks and improve vehicle performance; on the other hand, they had to consider the actual needs of Japanese domestic consumers and road conditions. In terms of technological R & D, after countless experiments and improvements, the engineers equipped the Datsun 12 - type car with a more efficient engine, significantly enhancing its power output compared to previous models and enabling it to better cope with the complex and changeable road conditions in Japan. At the same time, they carefully designed an advanced suspension system, greatly enhancing the vehicle's driving stability and comfort. When designing the appearance, the team adhered to the concept of simplicity and practicality. The body lines were smooth, conforming to the aesthetic trends of the time and effectively reducing wind resistance. Once the Datsun 12 - type car was launched, it caused a strong response in the market. With its excellent performance and affordable price, it quickly won the favor of Japanese consumers, and its sales volume soared. The success of this car not only laid a solid foundation for Nissan to gain a foothold in the domestic market but also marked a major breakthrough in Nissan's automotive manufacturing technology, opening the journey of Nissan Motor towards glory.
As time passed to the 1960s, the Nissan Fairlady Z (the first generation) was born, becoming a dazzling new star in the automotive world. At that time, the global automotive culture was undergoing profound changes. Consumers' demands for cars were no longer limited to practicality but also placed greater emphasis on personalization and high - performance. Nissan keenly captured this market trend and decided to create a sports car that could meet consumers' yearning for speed and passion. During the R & D process, Nissan invested a large amount of manpower, material resources, and financial resources. The engineers deeply optimized the engine, adopting advanced fuel injection technology, which greatly increased the engine's power and torque, enabling the Fairlady Z to unleash powerful performance. In terms of appearance design, Nissan invited top - notch design teams. They drew inspiration from the popular European sports car designs of the time and at the same time incorporated unique Eastern aesthetic elements. The Fairlady Z had a low - slung and smooth body line, sharp headlights, and muscular wheel arches. Its overall shape was highly aggressive, like a beast ready to pounce. In 1969, the Fairlady Z was officially launched and quickly set off a craze worldwide. It was not only in short supply in the Japanese domestic market but also successfully entered the automotive - powerhouse markets in Europe and America, becoming a brilliant business card for the Japanese automotive industry to showcase its strength to the world. The birth of the Fairlady Z not only enhanced Nissan's brand image but also promoted the development of Japanese sports car culture, inspiring more Japanese car companies to engage in the R & D of high - performance sports cars.
Another iconic model in Nissan's lineup is the GT - R. The origin of the GT - R can be traced back to the Skyline 房车系. In 1957, the SKYLINE car series was born in a car factory named "Prince". Due to poor management of the factory, it was acquired by Nissan Motor in 1969. After the acquisition, Nissan, eager to compete with leading car manufacturers like Toyota, urgently needed models with outstanding appearance and performance to enhance its brand value and market share. Thus, the Skyline (Skyline) and SILVIA models, which had been shelved after the reorganization, were officially approved for production, and the glorious journey of the GT - R series began.
The first - generation GT - R, the C10 type, was launched in 1969. It was a straight - six, 2000cc, 160 - horsepower classic sports car. First, the four - door version debuted, and then the two - door version was added in 1970. The KPGC10 was the most powerful vehicle in Japan at that time, outperforming the 240Z with its mere 120 - horsepower. The KPGC10 won numerous competitions in Japan, gaining a great reputation and becoming a classic. The second - generation GT - R, the C110, was launched in 1973. It was an important model in the development history of the Skyline GT - R series as it was the first to adopt the four - round taillight group design that has since become the soul of the GT - R series. However, due to a significant increase in body size and weight and little change in the power unit, its handling performance was inferior to the previous generation, and it was not a successful product mechanically. Moreover, due to the 1973 world oil crisis, Nissan was forced to stop the production of GT - R.
It was not until 1988 that Nissan announced the resumption of GT - R production. In 1989, the long - awaited BNR32 was launched. Inheriting the blood of Nissan's famous racing series SKYLINE and incorporating the latest technology, the BNR32 won the reputation of "Invincible God of War" and "King of the Road". It was the purest version in the GT - R series in terms of performance orientation. The BNR32's power combination was unrivaled at that time, helping it regain the throne on the track. It achieved 29 consecutive wins in Japan, and its sales volume of 43,934 units was a remarkable result for a purely performance - oriented Japanese sports car.
The subsequent generations, such as the BCNR33 in 1995 and the BNR34 in 1999, also had their own characteristics. Although the BCNR33 made progress in various aspects, its overall combat effectiveness was not as good as the previous R32 GT - R. The BNR34 was the last GT - R based on the Skyline series and the swan song of the RB - 26 series engines.
In 2007, the GT - R R35 was launched, marking the return of the "God of War". It broke away from the Skyline series and became an independent series of Nissan. The R35 GT - R went through two generations of concept cars, the 2001 GT - R Concept and the 2005 GT - R PROTO Concept. Drawing on the essence of the styling of previous GT - Rs and integrating avant - garde and science - fiction - like new elements, it created a new self - contained image. In 2012, the GT - R Nismo was introduced. It had a more powerful engine with larger turbochargers and an optimized intake and exhaust system. The car's weight was reduced by 65 kilograms compared to the standard version, and it achieved a remarkable lap time of 7 minutes, 8 seconds, and 679 milliseconds at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, making it one of the fastest GT - Rs ever.
Entering the 21st century, with the increasing awareness of environmental protection and the intensification of the energy crisis, electric vehicles have become a new direction for the development of the automotive industry. Against this background, Nissan launched the Leaf, the world's first mass - produced pure electric vehicle, in 2010. The birth of the Leaf did not happen overnight but was the result of Nissan's years of painstaking efforts in the field of electric vehicle technology. In order to create a truly practical electric vehicle, Nissan's R & D team faced many difficult problems, among which the most crucial was battery technology. After years of research and experimentation, they finally adopted advanced lithium - ion battery technology. This type of battery has advantages such as high energy density, fast charging speed, and long service life, providing a reliable power source for the Leaf. In terms of cruising range, the R & D team optimized the vehicle's aerodynamic design, improved the motor efficiency, and other measures, enabling the Leaf to achieve a cruising range of 175 kilometers under the technical conditions at that time, basically meeting the needs of daily urban travel. In addition, Nissan also equipped the Leaf with an advanced battery management system, which can monitor the battery state in real - time to ensure the safety and stable operation of the battery. After the Leaf was launched, with its characteristics of environmental protection, energy conservation, and practicality, it quickly attracted the attention and love of global consumers. Its success not only promoted the development of electric vehicle technology but also provided an important demonstration for the global automotive industry's transformation towards the new energy field, enabling more consumers to recognize and accept the emerging thing of electric vehicles.
In more recent times, Nissan has continued to innovate in the SUV segment. For example, the all - new third - generation Qashqai made its debut at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show. Since its entry into the Chinese market, the Qashqai has been a trend - setter in the urban SUV segment, thanks to its European driving control genes and Japanese - style delicate comfort, which fully meet the needs of Chinese consumers. The all - new third - generation Qashqai is designed by the European Design Center, featuring a magnetic flow design concept and a refined technology cockpit. Its exterior design adopts the latest V - Motion 3.0 design language, with a new Double V - Motion front face and an array - type front grille, presenting a more intense visual impact. Inside, it offers a more comfortable experience with an upgraded interior, a floating hollow - out center console, LED ambient lights, a new 8 - way power + 2 - way lumbar support ergonomic leather seat, and a full - cockpit sound system developed in collaboration with Bandai.
Also, the Pathfinder Concept, a large - sized flagship SUV concept car tailored for the Chinese market, made its global debut at the same auto show. Since its debut in 1985, the Pathfinder has been a benchmark in the SUV segment, meeting family needs while incorporating technological innovations. The Pathfinder Concept combines Chinese modern aesthetics and Nissan's pioneering spirit, presenting the "New Grandness" concept. Its new Digital V - Motion design across the front face, along with the delicate connection of lights and trims, extends the vehicle's width, enhancing brand recognition. The large - sized body surface is both dynamic and stable, and the two - color floating roof and integrated through - type taillights combine a sense of technology and stability.
Each of these classic car models of Nissan has a unique birth story. They have either achieved major technological breakthroughs, accurately grasped market demands, or led new trends in the industry. It is the continuous emergence of these star products that has created the glorious history of Nissan Motor, enabling it to always occupy an important position in the global automotive market. In the future, with the continuous progress of science and technology and the continuous change of market demands, we have every reason to believe that Nissan will continue to launch more anticipated classic car models, 续写 its own glorious chapter.
