New Sunny combines performance and economy

Press, 2 November 1982, Page 27

New Sunny combines performance and economy

The new front-wheel drive Nissan Sunny will initially be available in New Zealand as a 1.3 litre, four-door with four-speed transmission, a 1.5 litre four-door with fivespeed transmission, or a 1.5 litre automatic with Nissan's unique new. L.T.C. (Lock-in Torque Converter) transmission.

The 1.3 litre model, powered by Nissan’s new 74horsepower. 1270 cc series engine, is initially introduced as an SG model.

This badging indicates that the vehicle is very well equipped with full-faced cloth seating, centre console with oddments pocket, child proof locks, remote control trunk lid opener, door pockets, armrests, leather gear knob, intermittment action windscreen wipers, side body mouldings, door mounted mirrors plus many other items normally listed as extras on more expensive vehicles.

The 84-horsepower, 1.5 litre SGX models, with fivespeed or automatic transmis-

sions. have very high specifications with additional equipment for the SGX, including alloy wheels, polypropylene bumpers, halogen headlights, additional instrument warning lights, tachometer, remote fuel lid opener, cut pile carpet and upholstery by Thiel, of Germany. Nissan has admirably fulfilled its design brief on the new Nissan Sunny.

The brief for this new model was drawn up following worldwide research which gave strong indications that to be a success a new car on today’s market had to offer economy, performance, space and style.

Certainly, such a brief looks to be beyond all realms of possibility when initially considered, but the new Sunny from Nissan meets all these criteria.

Already, the Sunny has won the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s award for the most economical petrol-driven car. It has followed this up with victory in a fuel economy

run in Norway and. in New Zealand, an independent oil company test indicates up to 52.6 miles' per gallon (18.6 km per litre). This fuel efficiency has not been gained by reductions in performance. Instead, Nissan has worked at obtaining maximum aerodynamic efficiency, reducing vehicle weight and developing a gear box with overdrive ratios in both fourth and fifth gears among many other innovations.

Performance improvements have been gained by increasing the engine compression ratio, designing high-swirl induction ports, a dual exhaust system, domeshaped combustion chambers and a camshaft with higher power profiles. Space is an inherent advantage of front wheel drive vehicles and the new Sunny has gained over 10 per cent in interior dimensions, making it the roomiest in its class.

Styling has been based on retaining the benefits of

aerodynamics in design whilst adhering to the "European concept" of a subtle blend of elegance and function.

Nissan's new Sunny is a reflection of the company's policy of combining superior technology and fuel efficiency to provide motor vehicles that combine flair and class. The release of Nissan’s new Sunny SGX heralds the introduction of a new type of automatic transmission on the New Zealand market. The new Nissan "Lock-in Torque Converter” is the key to this new fuel-conscious automatic transmission.

The torque converter is the critical link in any automatic transmission. In simple terms, it is a large metal housing that is filled with fluid circulating between a pair of turbine rotors.

It is smooth in its operation but is a little inefficient because of its reliance on a fluid coupling — the coupling between the engine and the

driving wheels of the vehicle. With Nissan’s L.T.C. transmission. this fluid coupling, which is prone to "slipping" and thus power loss, has been effectively modified. When the car reaches a road speed of about 65km per hour, a mechanical clutch locks up the connection between the engine and the driven gears — effectively converting the transmission to “manual” operation in top gear. Therefore, full efficiency is maximised giving the Sunny SGX Automatic similar fuel consumption figures to that of the manual transmission models. The Datsun Sunny is the most successful car yet produced by Nissan of Japan, and the records continue to pile up. The latest milestone for this well-styled and incredibly economical family car is production of the seven-mil-lionth unit. The model was introduced in Japan 16 years ago and now sells in 130 countries.

The Sunny was introduced to meet a family car market where economy and ease of driving were uppermost. It has since been enhanced by styling refinements, added roominess and comfort. The front-wheel drive and new “E" engine have also established the car as one of the world's great tuei misers. Following a recent survey by the U.S. Environment Protection Agency, the Sunny 1.5-litre sedan with fivespeed transmission leads all other petrol powered cars with a city driving figure oi 43 m.p.g. (15.2 km per litre). That is the sixth time in the last 10 years that the Sunny model range (120 Y has ranked first in the E P.A.’s fuel economy rankings.