New Datsun mid-range car Little new

Press, 23 October 1980, Page 11

New Datsun mid-range car Little new

By

JOHN FRIDD,

Motoring editor

Look out, Cortina, Sigma and Mazda 626 — Bluebird’s, here and means business. The Bluebird is Datsun’s new medium-sized car and the company has adopted an aggressive marketing policy to go with it, as Datsun has jusj overcome the supply problems which have meant_ lengthy waiting lists for its cars in New Zealand in the past. The Bluebird range initially consists of two models — a 1.6 litreengined version coming onto the market at. exactly the price the superseded 2008 will leave it and a luxury 2-litre model costing $13,600. In replacing the 2-litre 2008 with a 1.6-litre model, Datsun has joined Toyota in deliberately downsizing its model range in the interests of fuel economy. The Bluebird is certain fo win quick approval by many of those who can afford to splash out on a new car these days. It has crisp lines — the Datsun engineers have obviously studied all the successful European, mid-range cars intently — and better handling, steering and rear-seat room, among Other things, Datsun’s well-proven 1.6-litre motor — one simUar to that which powered the popular Datsun 1600 in the early seventies — provides the power for the Bluebird GX. Datsun claim that the motor produces 100 bhp — only 10 less than the 2-litre .powerplant in the dearer ZX.

The GX has independent; “zero-scrub” front suspension, ventilated front disc brakes and rack-and-pinion steering for the first time. Rear suspension is handled by a four-link system. According to Datsun, the engine mounts have been redesigned to reduce noise and vibration. Rust — something often associated with Datsuns in the past — should be inhibited by new plastic wheel-arch liners, which will also cut noise levels on gravel roads.Among the standard equipment on the new basic model are interior boot-release, quartz, clock, door-open warning light, manual choke, side body* mouldings, collapsible steeriiig column with tilt adjustment, cloth seats, polypropylene bumpers, child-proof rear door-locks and heated rear window. The 2-litre Bluebird ZX has an impressive list of standard equipment, and so it should for $13,600. The most interesting things are the remote-con-trol wing mirrors, which can be adjusted by pressing a sensor-plate on the dashboard — electric current does the dirty work.

Other standard equipment includes driver’s seat lumbar and height adjuster, Mercedes-style Thiel seat-cloth, interior fuel-cap release, roof-mounted map light, ignition-key light, hand-made rear map-pock-ets, quartz digital clock and warning lights for low brake and battery fluid

levels, door-ajar and choke-on. The ZX has a five-speed gearbox coupled to its trusty 110 bhp motor incorporates a special bar to stop the unwary driver from trying to shift from fifth .to reverse. In a few months time the two new Bluebirds will gain a stablemate —

the 2-litre GX wagon, which will have a similar line of standard equipment to the GX sedan. The wagon will replace the current 2008 hold-all. The Bulebirds will be avaiable in 10 different colours, some of which have never been seen before on Datsuns in New Zealand.

The new Bluebirds look snappy on the surface, but driving them soon brings home the fact that underneath thev are made of the same stuff as the 2008 and 1808 ranges — not that that is necessarily bad. '

There are no radical changes — nothing like the split, folding rear seat that makes the Mazda 626 such a versatile car. Around town, the goodlooking Bluebird’s new rack-and-pinion steering helps the driver place-the car more accurately but on the open rbad it still seems to have some of the vagueness of the old models, with their recircu-lating-bali steering. Admittedly, it was blowing a gale the day I drove the cars and it was difficult to tell what they would be like in still conditions.

Datsun might also find that some previous 2008 and 1808 owners will object to having a 1.6 litre car served up as a replacement. Despite its claimed lighter weight and 100 bhp, the .GX did not seem to have the urge of the 2008. Inside, the Bluebird seems to have reasonable rear-seat leg-room and noise levels are down quite significantly on the former models. The handling of the new models is safe and predictable—if not particularly brilliant Datsun has built some oversteer (rearend break-away) into the Bluebird to tidy up its handling and it could be a handful on a gravel road. The ZX has quite a nice five-speed gearbox and this would probably make for economical cruising on the open road.