GT5 Transcripts/Nissan Primera P10


 * The Nissan Primera was sold as the G20 in the US.

The Primera, unveiled in 1990, represented the start of a new era of front-drive cars for Nissan. Designed to mimic European sports sedans, the Primera featured a taut suspension, but some felt that the ride quality was jus too stiff for Japanese tastes. Nissan stuck to its guns; after all, the company had studies the handling and ride characteristics of European cars during its involvement with Volkswagen, when it was building the VW Santana in Japan. Also, the Primera was developed under Nissan's 901 project, whose goal was to create the best handling cars in the world by 1990 (the R32 Skyline was also developed under this plan).

The Primera was an attractive car, though hardly distinctive. The car measured 14.4 ft long and 5.5 ft wide, easily accommodating five occupants and their luggage. Providing the power was a 1.8-liter of 2.0-liter DOHC direct-injection inline-4 that produced 148 HP. The latter featured excellent torque and throttle response, making it a favorite for sporty driver. Both powerplants came mated to either a 5-speed manual gearbox or 4-speed automatic.

Because of its taut suspension, the Primera was a delight on twisty roads, and although ride quality was somewhat harsh, the car demonstrated excellent high-speed stability. The Primera became a favorite for driving enthusiasts, and earned the moniker, "a car more European than a European car".