A Brief Look at the Nissan Pulsar
The History and Evolution of the Nissan Pulsar
The Nissan Pulsar vehicle is a compact car that made its debut in 1978. Nissan, as a company, wanted a car that would compete with the highly successful Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, and Mazda 323. The first generations of the Nissan Pulsar were introduced as replacements for Datsun Sunny in most export markets. The Pulsar was well-received, and it went on to become one of Nissan’s most successful models, with six generations spanning four decades.
First Generation (1978-1982)
The first-generation Nissan Pulsar was introduced in 1978 and was available as a three-door hatchback or a five-door fastback. These cars were powered by a 1.2-liter or 1.4-liter engine and had a four-speed manual transmission. The Pulsar was originally sold in Japan as the Cherry, but Nissan decided to change the name for export markets. The Pulsar was well-received and gained popularity quickly. In 1980, the Pulsar GTI-R was introduced, which was a turbocharged version of the Pulsar.
Second Generation (1982-1986)
The second-generation Nissan Pulsar was introduced in 1982. The new Pulsar featured a sleeker design and was available as a three-door hatchback, a five-door hatchback, a two-door coupe, and a four-door sedan. The Pulsar remained popular, and it received a major overhaul in 1984, which included a new grille, taillights, and a revised interior. The most notable version of the second-generation Pulsar was the Pulsar NX, which was a sporty coupe with a T-top roof.
Third Generation (1986-1990)
The third-generation Nissan Pulsar was introduced in 1986 and was available as a three-door hatchback, a five-door hatchback, a two-door coupe, and a four-door sedan. The new Pulsar was given a modern design, and it was powered by a range of engines, including a 1.5-liter, 1.6-liter, and 1.8-liter engine. The third-generation Pulsar was also the first to feature electronic fuel injection, which improved fuel efficiency and performance.
Fourth Generation (1990-1995)
The fourth-generation Nissan Pulsar was introduced in 1990 and was available as a three-door hatchback, a five-door hatchback, and a four-door sedan. The new Pulsar was given a more aerodynamic design, and it was powered by a range of engines, including a 1.3-liter, 1.4-liter, 1.5-liter, 1.6-liter, and 2.0-liter engine. The fourth-generation Pulsar was also the first to feature a front-wheel-drive setup, which improved handling and performance.
Fifth Generation (1995-2000)
The fifth-generation Nissan Pulsar was introduced in 1995 and was available as a three-door hatchback, a five-door hatchback, and a four-door sedan. The new Pulsar featured a more modern design, and it was powered by a range of engines, including a 1.3-liter, 1.4-liter, 1.6-liter, and 2.0-liter engine. The fifth-generation Pulsar was also the first to feature a sporty GTI-R version, which was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine.
Sixth Generation (2000-2005)
The sixth-generation Nissan Pulsar was introduced in 2000 and was available as a three-door hatchback, a five-door hatchback, and a four-door sedan. The new Pulsar was given a more modern design, and it was powered by a range of engines, including a 1.3-liter, 1.5-liter, 1.6-liter, and 2.0-liter engine. The sixth-generation Pulsar was also the first to feature a sports coupe version, which was named the Pulsar SR16VE N1.
The Nissan Pulsar has been a staple of the compact car market for over four decades. Each generation of the Pulsar was unique, and it featured a range of engines, transmission options, and body styles. The Pulsar has remained popular, and it is still remembered as one of Nissan’s most successful models. Whether it’s the classic Pulsar GTI-R or the modern Pulsar Nismo, the Pulsar is a car that is loved by car enthusiasts worldwide.