The Nissan Pulsar (Japanese: 日産・パルサー, Hepburn: Nissan Parusā) is a line of automobiles produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan from 1978 until 2000, when it was replaced by the Nissan Bluebird Sylphy in the Japanese market.

Between 2000 and 2005, the name "Pulsar" has been used in Australia and New Zealand on rebadged versions of the Sylphy. This arrangement continued until the introduction of the Nissan Tiida (C11) in 2005; at this time the Pulsar name was retired. In 2013, Nissan replaced the Tiida in Australia and New Zealand with two new models badged as Pulsar. These were based on the Sylphy (B17) sedan and Tiida (C12) hatchback, the latter also sold in Thailand under the Pulsar name. In 2014, a European-only replacement for the Tiida was introduced using the Pulsar nameplate.

The original Pulsar was a hatchback to be sold exclusively at a different Nissan Japan dealership network called Nissan Cherry Store as a larger five-door hatchback alternative to the Nissan Cherry. Although Pulsar models were front-wheel drive from introduction, Nissan did offer four-wheel drive as an option on select models internationally.

The Pulsar sold in Japan originally served as the intermediate model offered at Nissan dealerships Nissan Cherry Store between the Nissan Violet and the Cherry, while different versions of the Pulsar sold at other Japanese networks served as the base model, with other larger Nissan products. Various Pulsar-based models were exported as international market conditions dictated, sometimes labeled as "Sunny", "Cherry" or "Sentra", while the internationally labeled product was actually a Pulsar and not a Japanese market Sunny or Cherry.

The name "Pulsar" is taken from pulsar (portmanteau of pulsating star), a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star.

The N10 model Pulsar, introduced in May 1978, replaced the earlier Cherry F-II internationally, and benefited from the engineering efforts of the Prince Motor Company which developed the Nissan Cherry before the company merged with Nissan in 1966. It retained the rack-and-pinion steering of the Cherry, as well as the independent suspension with coilover struts in front and coil sprung trailing arms at the rear.^[1] The Pulsar was a subcompact car to augment the Sunny sedan. The Sunny and the Pulsar ranges were sold at different Nissan Japan dealerships, called Nissan Satio Shop for the Sunny, and Nissan Cherry Shop for the Pulsar.

It retained the Cherry name in Europe and many other export markets, even being sold as the "Cherry Europe" in some markets such as Belgium to separate it from the Cherry F-II which remained on sale for a while. The "Cherry"-badged version was first introduced at the Dutch AutoRAI show in February 1979 and went on sale shortly thereafter.^[2] An unusual styling feature for the car was its long nose, which was due to Nissan envisaging that the car would also be built with a longitudinal rear-wheel-drive layout for developing markets; however, only front-wheel-drive models were actually built. At the time of introduction, the Pulsar only had a four-door fastback-styled sedan bodywork, and either a 1.2- or a 1.4-liter engine.^[1] The three-door and coupé hatchbacks arrived in September 1978. Many export markets also offered a 1.0-liter (A10) option, with 45 PS (33 kW) while the 1.2-liter A12 offered 52 PS (38 kW).^[3] This was the first passenger car Nissan assembled in their new Greek plant, where local partner TEOKAR built it with the 1.0 and 1.2-liter engines from 1980 on.^[4]

This model was known as the Datsun Cherry or Datsun 100A/120A/130A/140A/150A in Europe and most of Asia, and the Datsun 310 in the US and Canada. It was exported to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Malaysia with the Datsun Pulsar name. It entered the Australian market in October 1980, with the facelift arriving in October 1981.^[5] In New Zealand the facelift model was locally assembled from late 1981, effectively replacing the previous generation 100A which was built and sold locally in the mid-1970s. The Datsun Pulsar was also locally assembled in South Africa and in Malaysia by Tan Chong Motor.^[6] Some late South African Pulsars use the square Skyline-style head- and taillights from the Langley, including on the well-equipped Pulsar Panache model.

Another Pulsar derivative was introduced to Japan, called the Nissan Langley, from 1980, and was introduced as a "mini Skyline", and exclusive to Nissan Prince Shop. The Japanese-market Langley assumed duties of the first generation, Sunny-based coupe called the Nissan Silvia when the second generation Silvia was upgraded to the larger Nissan Violet platform; both the Silvia and the Langley remained exclusive to Nissan Prince Store locations. The Langley was given its name from Samuel Pierpont Langley the inventor of the bolometer, a device used to measure electromagnetic radiation from the Sun, and was well regarded for his work in solar physics. Because of its sporting intentions, the Langley was equipped with an independent suspension at all four wheels, using MacPherson struts in the front, and a trailing arm coil suspension for the rear. The engine choices consisted of the A14 and E15 series engines with multi-point fuel injection on top level trim packages, but only in a three-door hatchback.

The N10 series Pulsar was available as a three- or five-door hatchback, a short-lived four-door fastback sedan, a five-door van or station wagon, and a three-door fastback-styled coupé with a wraparound rear window introduced at the end of 1978. The van was first released in November 1978, while the export-only wagon models first appeared in early 1979.^[7] Originally the lineup consisted only of the four-door sedan which utilized the same body profile as the later hatchback models; in August 1978 the coupé and three-door hatchback models were added, along with a fuel injected version of the 1.4-liter engine.^[8] One year later a five-door hatchback appeared, replacing the four-door sedan which was immediately discontinued.^[9]

Most markets outside Japan did not receive all versions: for instance, the three- and five-door hatchbacks and the coupé were the only models to be offered in the US. Most markets never got any fuel injected versions. The 1.0-liter A10 (later also updated to an OHC engine, called E10) was never available in Japan, mainly restricted to markets where tax codes made smaller engines necessary. An interesting anomaly of the French automotive taxation system is that while the A12A-engined Cherry sedans were considered as "6 CVs", the coupés with the same engine were markedly cheaper to own as they were classified as "5 CVs".^[7] An unusual feature at the time of introduction was the split folding rear seat fitted to better equipped models, increasing versatility.^[10]

A late-term facelift in March 1981 brought Nissan's newly developed OHC E-series engines in for the last twelve months of production, which also introduced the more conventional (and industry standard) drivetrain with an end-on transmission with unequal length driveshafts - the A-Series engine cars continued to use the transmission-in-sump layout that had been used in the previous generation Cherry models. The facelift involved a new grille and rectangular headlamps. The updated 1982 model Pulsar five-door hatchback with E-series engine was assembled in New Zealand at Nissan's new factory-owned assembly plant in Wiri, Auckland. Only one well-equipped model was offered, with a five-speed manual gearbox.

In 1982 "Nissan" badges began to appear on the cars, due to Nissan phasing out the Datsun name at that time for its international markets. Production of the N10 series ceased in mid-1982, to be replaced by the all-new N12 Cherry/Pulsar.

In Japan the five-door van received the VN10 chassis code when shown in November 1978, but was then re-released in August 1979 in a version which met the 1979 commercial vehicle emissions standards — this model was designated VN11. While domestic market passenger models only received the slightly larger A12A engine, the vans and many export markets retained the smaller A12 engine (and the option of the larger A14) as also used in the preceding Cherry F-II.^[11] The van was unusual in the Japanese market for the period in being front-wheel drive; Nissan made the most of this and gave it a special rear suspension to allow for a very low loading floor. To further lower the rear opening the rear bumper was also extremely slim. This generation Pulsar van also provided the basis for the first generation of the Prairie people carrier. This van bodywork, with more comfortable fittings, was also used for the wagon model as sold in export markets. After the March 1981 facelift, the van also received the updated E13 and E15 OHC engines and now carried the VUN10 and VMN10 chassis codes. The three-door panel van model seems to have only been sold in the export.

A more angular version was announced in April 1982, making its European debut in October. By this time, Nissan had more or less standardised its naming policy worldwide, so as a Nissan it tended, except in European markets, to be known as the Pulsar. In Europe it retained the "Cherry" moniker, and in Malaysia and South Africa it was sold as the Nissan Langley. This generation Pulsar sedan or hatchback was sold in North America only for model year 1983.^[15] Some unusual options were carried over from the previous generation, such as having the rear locks (on four-door models) remote operated by cable from the front seat. The rear child locks could also be controlled with a slider mounted beneath the driver's seat.^[16]

Asia

New Pulsar models were introduced in the Japanese home market with three- or five-door hatchback bodywork, as well as the Pulsar EXA two-door coupé. In June a four-door sedan arrived as well. Most Pulsars sold had flush-fitting, aerodynamic rectangular headlights, but the lowest-spec cars received smaller rectangular units set deeper within the grille surround. There was no van model of the N12 Pulsar; instead, Nissan Cherry stores sold a version of the B11-series AD Van as the "Pulsar AD." In May 1983 the 1.7-liter CD17 diesel and a 115 PS (85 kW) turbocharged petrol model were introduced. At the same time, a door mirror was fitted to some models rather than the traditional fender-mounted unit.^[17] The law had been changed only two months earlier, allowing for such fitment, and the Pulsar was the first Japanese car to take advantage of the change. The lowest-spec models, like the Pulsar TC, continued to use fender mirrors until the end of N12 production.^[18]

The series was facelifted at the end of March 1984, with wider and slimmer headlights. There were no longer two types of headlamps available. This is also when the Pulsar Milano trim level was introduced.^[19] This was a three-door hatchback with a more European and Italianate flair - while Alfa Romeo were not involved in its development, calling the model by the name of Alfa Romeo's hometown was a nod at the collaboration. In May 1985 the turbocharger was changed to a water-cooled design.

The Nissan Langley, in its second generation, was a Pulsar sold at Nissan Prince Store locations next to the Skyline, and shared many styling influences from the Skyline. The market acceptance of the Langley inspired Nissan to sell a second badge engineered version at Nissan Bluebird Shop as the Nissan Liberta Villa.^[20] This model partially replaced the larger Nissan Stanza clone called the Nissan Violet Liberta. The Liberta Villa was only available as a sedan, offered as a smaller companion to the Nissan Leopard (itself a Skyline clone). The top trim package was the SSS turbo with the E15ET engine, and the top two trim packages offered multi-port fuel injection with the base model offering a carburetor—all with the 1.5-liter petrol engine. As with the Pulsar and the Langley, the CD17 diesel engine was also offered on the Liberta Villa.

In Singapore the Pulsar was clearly defined as a class below the Sunny (even though a Pulsar sedan is longer than a Sunny and sits on a longer wheelbase). While the Sunny could be had with 1.3 or 1.5-liter engines, the Pulsar was only available with the 1-litre E10 engine. It was also fitted with the small recessed lights used for the lowest-cost models. In Singaporean specifications, the E10 engine produces 52 bhp (39 kW; 53 PS) DIN and was also available together with air conditioning.^[21]

Australasia

The Australian market Pulsar N12 series arrived in October 1982.^[22] Offered as a five-door hatchback, 1.3-liter TC and 1.5-liter TS specifications featured. These early cars were manufactured in Japan.^[23] May 1983 saw the debut of an update to the Australian range.^[22] Now produced locally, the update heralded minor trim changes, suspension and steering revisions and new seats. Specification levels were overhauled with the Pulsar E opening up the range with its 1.3-liter engine, followed by the 1.5-liter GL and GX. In October 1983 the sedan body was introduced in GL and GX guises (1.5-liter). A turbocharged Pulsar ET five-door arrived in April 1984, sharing its engine and trim with the EXA.^[24] It was only available with a five-speed manual. The ET also had alloy wheels, a modified suspension and various aerodynamic improvements. The engine was imported fully built from Japan, which placed a limit on how many ETs could be built without falling afoul of laws on local content.^[25]

The next update came in August 1984^[22] alongside a badge engineered twin, the Holden Astra (LB)—a scheme devised under the Button car plan.^[26] To differentiate the Pulsar, Nissan Australia applied the upmarket Japanese market Langley body details for its facelift.^[26] The headlamps were now fitted as quad units and narrower horizontal tail lamps distinguished the rear styling. Other changes included an increase in specification, minor suspension calibrations, and refreshed interior trims. Sedan versions had their facelift delayed until November that year, and the ET hatchback lingered on with the older styling until the demise of the N12 in 1987.^[27] The Australian-built Pulsar ET was also exported to New Zealand, beginning in 1985.^[28]

The final Australian N12 update arrived in April 1986 prior to the 1987 N13 introduction.^[22] The Holden version was known as the LC Astra.^[29] The revisions brought further trim changes, tweaks to the five-speed manual transmission, new colours, a new entry-level DX model, a change from GX to GXE, and the introduction of a larger displacement 1.6-liter engine tuned for unleaded petrol replacing the 1.3- and 1.5-liter leaded units used previously. The ET model also saw its 1.5-liter turbocharged engine updated for unleaded fuel.^[26][30]

The N12 was assembled in New Zealand at Nissan NZ's plant in Wiri South Auckland from 1982, and facelifted in 1984 when the main change was a switch to the now compulsory laminated windscreen. This generation was offered in both three and five door hatchback form with both 1.3- and 1.5-liter Nissan E-series engines shared with the also locally assembled Sunny sedan (NZ did not import the equivalent Pulsar sedan). The Holden Astra badged variant was not sold in New Zealand. The EXA Coupé was a limited official Nissan import new but thousands more Japanese market specification models arrived in the later 1980s and early 1990s when the NZ market was opened up to used imports.

Europe

The European market Cherrys were available with engines ranging from a 1.0-liter, 50 PS (37 kW) petrol unit via a 1270 cc 60 PS, a 1488 cc 70 PS up to the 114 PS (84 kW) turbocharged 1.5-liter E15ET and also included the diesel CD17.^[31] In early 1983, a 1.7-liter diesel option was introduced; this was the first Cherry diesel. Only a small "diesel" badge on the bootlid betrayed the engine option.^[32] To accommodate the extra 65 kg (143 lb) over the front axle, the diesel received stronger front springs and a model-specific, slightly larger, single-spoke steering wheel to counteract what would have otherwise been a heavier steering.^[33]

The Cherry Turbo was an attempt at breaking into the then very popular GTi category, but being a somewhat half-hearted effort it did not have much of an impact in the marketplace. The Turbo sat on comparatively skinny Dunlop tires and had few changes aside from its many stickers and the turbocharger. Period tests complained about peaky power delivery (and the same long gear ratios as for the regular Cherry), torque steer, and a harsh ride.^[34] The Pulsar/Cherry underwent a light facelift in July 1984.^[35]

This model was also built in Italy by Alfa Romeo as the Arna (named after the joint venture which created it, Alfa Romeo Nissan Autoveicoli), using Alfa Romeo boxer engines. Confusingly, the Italian models were also sold in the United Kingdom and Spain as the "Nissan Cherry Europe". At Alfa Romeo, the Arna was meant to replace lesser versions of the popular Alfasud, but never had the Italian car's appeal. The Cherry Europe also failed in its "home" market (Europe) lacking the build quality and reliability of its Japanese built twin car.

In 1986, Nissan's design chief refused to follow the smoother, aerodynamic look of other cars, and told his design team to come up with an affordable, subcompact car.^{[citation needed]} A squarer Pulsar N13 series was released as a result; innovations included a permanently four-wheel drive model with a viscous coupling which appeared in May 1986. In February 1987 a version with three viscous couplings was introduced: one for each axle and one in between. This was originally limited to a production of 200 cars, at a price increase 50 percent higher than for the regular four-wheel-drive version.^[37] For 1988 it became a regularly available model; this was very similar to the Attesa system which first appeared in the Bluebird soon thereafter. In 1986, the Pulsar won the Car of the Year Japan award. Capitalizing on the popularity of the larger R31 series Nissan Skyline, this generation shares many visual styling cues with the larger car.

The N13 series EXA was spun off as its own model internationally, but retained the Pulsar NX name in the United States. It was designated as the N13 series, despite actually being based on the Nissan Sunny (B12) chassis.

In 1990, the N14 model saw Nissan turn to a more rounded design. The Langley and the Liberta Villa were replaced with the Nissan Primera, assigning the Primera to Nissan Prince Shop locations.

This version of the car was launched in the United Kingdom as the Nissan Sunny from March 1991 and was the last generation of Sunny to be sold in Europe, where it was replaced late in 1995 by the Almera. One anomaly from this period resulted from Nissan taking control of its British import and distribution business from Automotive Financial Group (AFG); the acrimonious split between Nissan and Octav Botnar resulted in AFG sourcing the vehicle badged as the Pulsar and selling it concurrently in the UK alongside the "official" version (badged as the Sunny) by the newly established Nissan Motor GB. The European top-of-the-line model was the 2.0 GTI, equipped with the naturally aspirated SR20DE engine with 143 PS (105 kW) rather than the 1.8-litre version used in the home market. While powerful, the Sunny GTI was better equipped and more cosseting than its in-class competitors, with more sedate handling as well.^[43]

This version continued to be offered in CKD kit form in New Zealand as the Sentra (unrelated to the version sold in North America). In Europe, the Sunny name continued, applied to three-door hatchback, five-door hatchback and four-door sedan models, alongside the separate model line Sunny California station wagon from Japan (called either the Sunny Estate or Sunny Traveller). This was the last generation of the Pulsar (now with Sunny badges, as in the rest of Europe) to be assembled in Greece, where TEOKAR went out of business in April 1995.^[4]

There was no N14 Pulsar offered in the United States or Canada either. Instead, the North American Pulsar for those markets evolved into what was known as the NX1600. The NX cars are coupés sharing the same chassis, engines, body electronics, and even dashboard with the Pulsar N14.

• Pulsar Sedan (JDM)
• Pulsar X1R five-door (JDM)
• 1991–1993 Pulsar SSS 5-door (Australia)
• Sunny three-door (Europe)

In 1995, the N15 Pulsar was launched as a compact car, rather than subcompact, and sold in Europe as the Nissan Almera. The New Zealand Nissan Sentra changed name to Pulsar after the Nissan assembly plant in Wiri, Auckland closed down in 1998, in favor of imports from Japan. Again, four- and five-door models were offered, with three-door models being available in Europe and Japan only, and not Australia and New Zealand. North American customers did not receive this car, with the Sunny-based Sentra B14 being sold there instead.

The chassis designation "N" series carried over to the Bluebird Sylphy (N16) in 2000 for the Japanese market.

The Australasian versions included the LX, SLX, Q and SSS variants. New Zealand specific versions included the S and SE variant. The SSS model (5-door hatch only) featured the SR20DE engine featuring 105 kW (141 hp)/179 Nm.

The station wagon continued to be from the Sunny, later spun off in Japan into the Nissan Wingroad.

In Australia and New Zealand, Nissan continued to use the Pulsar name for the N16 series that was labelled Nissan Bluebird Sylphy in Japan.

• Nissan Pulsar (N16, 2000–2005)
• Nissan Pulsar (N16, 2000–2005)

The B17 series Sylphy sedan was marketed as the Nissan Pulsar for the Australian and New Zealand markets from 2013. The model was discontinued in these two markets in April 2017, alongside the L33 Altima with no successor.^[62]

• Nissan Pulsar (B17, 2013–2017)
• Nissan Pulsar (B17, 2013–2017)

The C12 Pulsar hatchback was released in 2013 as a rebadged Nissan Tiida for Australia, New Zealand and Thailand. The C12 model was discontinued in Australia and New Zealand in April 2016 alongside the K13 Micra hatchback with no successor. It was also discontinued in Thailand in 2018, while it continues to be marketed in Taiwan as the Nissan Tiida.

• Nissan Pulsar (C12, 2013–2018)
• Nissan Pulsar (C12, 2013–2018)

On 16 May 2014, Nissan revealed the C13 series Pulsar for the European market. Based on the CMF platform, this model does not replace the C12 version, but is a European-only alternative.^[64][65] The C13 Pulsar signifies Nissan's reentry into the highly competitive compact hatchback segment, following the withdrawal of the Tiida from the market in 2011. It marks the first time the Pulsar nameplate has officially been used in mainland Europe, rather than the Cherry, Sunny and Almera nameplates that have been used in Europe over the generations. European sales began in March 2015. Pulsars for sale in Europe were built at Nissan's Barcelona plant in Spain.^[66]

Initially, the C13 Pulsar was available with a 113 bhp (84 kW) 1.2-liter DiG-T petrol engine with CVT transmission or a 1.5-liter diesel unit producing 104 bhp (78 kW).^[67][68] In October 2014, Nissan introduced the 1.6-liter DIG-T which develops 140 kW (188 hp) and went on sale since March 2015.^[69]

The model was marketed in Russia since March 2015 as the Nissan Tiida, where it was assembled in Izhevsk from January 2015,^[70][71] but production only lasted until December of the same year due to low sales.^[72] It is also sold in China as the C13 series Nissan Tiida since 2016 after being displayed at the April 2016 Auto China. In other Asian markets, the Nissan Pulsar is launched in Singapore since January 2017.

The Pulsar was discontinued in Europe on 12 September 2018 due to poor demand, with Spanish production having ended in June of the same year. The Almera sedan was also discontinued in the Russian market alongside the Pulsar with sales and production ending in October 2018.^[72] The model is still sold in China under the Tiida nameplate with a 1.6-litre NA engine.