Nissan Laurel

Nissan Laurel
Production period:	1968-2002
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	Limousine , coupe
Successor:	Nissan Teana

The Nissan Laurel is an upper middle class vehicle produced by the Japanese car manufacturer Nissan in eight generations from spring 1968 to the end of 2002 . It was originally developed by Prince and was launched as Nissan after Prince was taken over by Nissan.

Several generations were exported to Europe from 1977 to 1989 as Datsun Laurel or Datsun 1800 and later as Nissan Laurel.

Laurel (C30, 1968-1972)

1st generation
Nissan Laurel (1968–1972)
Production period:	1968-1972
Body versions :	Limousine , coupe
Engines:	Petrol engines : 1.8–2.0 liters (78–88 kW)
Length:	4305 mm
Width:	1605 mm
Height:	1405 mm
Wheelbase :	2620 mm
Empty weight :	1005 kg

In April 1968 Nissan presented the new Laurel, technically related to the Nissan Skyline, also developed by Prince, in the de Luxe and Super de Luxe versions as a four-door sedan with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and rear independent suspension.

A two-door hardtop coupé was added in the summer of 1970 , while a two-liter engine followed in the summer of 1971.

Laurel (C130, 1972-1977)

2nd generation
Nissan Laurel hardtop coupe
Production period:	1972-1977
Body versions :	Limousine , coupe
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.8–2.8 liters (78–99 kW)
Length:	4500 mm
Width:	1670 mm
Height:	1415 mm
Wheelbase :	2670 mm
Empty weight :	1155 kg

In April 1972 the second generation appeared, which in turn was available as a four-door sedan and two-door hardtop coupé. The sedan now had a rigid, leaf-sprung rear axle, while the coupe continued to have individually suspended rear wheels. A two-liter six-cylinder was added to the well-known four-cylinder with 1.8 and 2.0-liter displacement.

From October 1973 there was also a 2.6-liter in-line six-cylinder, which was replaced by a 2.8 l at the end of 1975.

Laurel (C230 / C231, 1977-1980)

3rd generation
Nissan Laurel 2800GSL (1977-1978)
Production period:	1977-1980
Body versions :	Limousine , coupe
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.8–2.8 liters (78–107 kW) Diesel engine : 2.0 liters (44 kW)
Length:	4525 mm
Width:	1685 mm
Height:	1405 mm
Wheelbase :	2670 mm
Empty weight :	1235 kg

The next model change took place in January 1977. The Laurel was first offered as a postless four-door hardtop sedan, with the regular sedan and coupe remaining on offer.

A 1.8-liter four-cylinder, a two-liter in-line six-cylinder with carburetor or injection, a 2.8-liter six-cylinder or a two-liter four-cylinder diesel provided propulsion. In the autumn of 1978, the Laurel received angular instead of round double headlights as part of a facelift.

Nissan Laurel 240L (1978-1980)

This Laurel was also offered in Germany with a certain degree of success. From the IAA 1977 the Laurel was offered under the name Datsun 200 L as a sedan and coupé at prices of 14,490 to 15,490 DM with a two-liter in-line six-cylinder (71 kW / 96 PS) with a wide range of equipment. These early Germany models visually corresponded to the Laurel C230 and carried round double headlights.

In May 1979 the 200 L was replaced by the Datsun Laurel of the C231 series (angular double headlights), which was replaced by the 2.4-liter six-cylinder (here with 83 kW / 113 hp) known from the Datsun 240K-GT and the Datsun 240Z was driven. The names "Laurel 180L / 200L / 240L / 280L" also existed.

Laurel (C31, 1980-1984)

4th generation
Nissan Laurel (1982)
Production period:	1980-1984
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.8–2.8 liters (77–107 kW) Diesel engines : 2.0–2.8 liters (44–67 kW)
Length:	4635 mm
Width:	1690 mm
Height:	1360 mm
Wheelbase :	2670 mm
Empty weight :	1245 kg

The Laurel (C31) introduced in November 1980 also met with a certain response as an inexpensive six-cylinder car in Europe. The new body, each with three side windows and angled front section, was similar to the Opel Senator . The base engine was still the 1.8-liter four-cylinder, with a two-liter four-cylinder, a two-liter six-cylinder (also available as a turbo), a 2.4-liter in-line six-cylinder and diesel engines with a displacement of 2.0 and 2.8 liters. The coupé was omitted, four-door sedans with or without B-pillars remained in the range .

In Germany, the Laurel was launched in May 1981 under the brand name Datsun with six-cylinder petrol engines (2 or 2.4 liters, 71 to 83 kW / 96 to 113 hp) or the 2.8 liter diesel (60 kW / 82 hp) sold; the prices initially ranged from 16,895 to 21,095 DM.

Rear view

In the autumn of 1983 the two-liter was dropped, the output of the 2.4-liter was increased to 88 kW / 120 PS, and at the same time the name was changed to Nissan Laurel. In combination with the 2.4-liter gasoline engine and the 2.8-liter diesel engine, higher-quality equipment was required, including electric window regulators on all four doors, central locking, power steering, headlamp washer and high-quality velor seat cushions. For a surcharge there was a three-speed (from 1983: 4-speed) automatic transmission as well as an electric steel sunroof and metallic paintwork, also for the diesel. Light alloy wheels and air conditioning could be retrofitted on request by the authorized dealer with original parts from Japan, where this equipment was already available ex works.

At that time, the 2.8-liter six-cylinder diesel was an absolute exception in this vehicle class in Germany, both in terms of price and equipment. Only the 524d from BMW or the 240 series from Volvo were able to offer a similar engine, but at significantly higher prices.

The driving performance as well as the consumption of the C31 were with the 2.4-l-6-cylinder carburettor engine with 5-speed manual transmission at approx. 172 km / h and 12.5 l / 100 km normal gasoline (3-speed automatic: 165 km / h, 13.5 l / 100 km; 4-stage automatic: 165 km / h; at approx. 12.8 l / 100 km). The 2.8-liter diesel with a 5-speed manual gearbox reached 160 km / h at approx. 9.0 l / 100 km diesel fuel (3-speed automatic: 155 km / h at approx. 9.5 l / 100 km, with the later available 4-stage automatic: 155 km / h at approx. 9.2 l / 100 km) The 4-stage automatic resulted in lower fuel consumption for both gasoline and diesel engines and a considerable reduction in noise at lower ones Engine speeds with it, which noticeably improved comfort.

The top version of the Laurel developed 114 kW / 155 PS.

Laurel (C32, 1984-1989)

5th generation
Nissan Laurel (1984-1987)
Production period:	1984-1989
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.8–3.0 liters (66–129 kW) Diesel engines : 2.8 liters (67–74 kW)
Length:	4650 mm
Width:	1690 mm
Height:	1425 mm
Wheelbase :	2670 mm
Empty weight :	1380 kg

Nissan Laurel (1984-1987)

The Laurel (C32), presented in October 1984, was designed with an emphatically angular design by Osamu Ito. It was also the last version to be exported on a large scale.

Here, too, only four-door sedans and hardtop sedans were offered. In the C32 there were the 1.8-liter four-cylinder, six-cylinder engines of 2.0, 2.4 and 3.0 liters and the 2.8-liter R6 diesel engine. The 2.4-liter R6 with 94 kW (128 PS) in the Nissan Laurel GL and SGL reached 190 km / h. This variant of the Laurel accelerated from 0 to 100 km / h in 10.8 seconds.

The Nissan Laurel SGX had a 3.0 liter VG30E or VG30S V6 engine with 109 kW (148 PS) or 115 kW (156 PS) at 5200 rpm, with the 1380 kg sedan reaching 207 km / h and Accelerated from 0 to 100 km / h within 8.9 seconds. The maximum torque was 235 Nm. The consumption of the 3.0-liter 6-cylinder was on average 11.4 liters. The most powerfully powered Laurel C32 had a 2.0-liter in-line six-cylinder turbo engine (RB20DET) with 129 kW (175 hp) and reached more than 210 km / h.

At the beginning of 1986 the Laurel C32 was also launched in Germany. There was a choice of the well-known 2.4-liter in-line six-cylinder, now with injection and 94 kW (128 hp), and the 2.8-liter diesel with initially unchanged output, later with 66 kW (90 hp). At the time of launch, the prices were DM 23,795 (petrol) and DM 25,695 (diesel). The standard equipment included an electrically controlled steel sunroof, power steering, central locking, two electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, height-adjustable driver's seats, a headlight wiper system, automatically retractable interval wipers and a 5-speed gearbox, as well as a 4-speed automatic gearbox with overdrive for an extra charge. There was also the option of air conditioning.

The Laurel 3.0 V6 SGX also had an electronic driving stabilization system, a voice warning system, height control, standard air conditioning, seat heating, cruise control, electrically controlled ventilation and an alarm system. There was also the version of the Laurel 3.0 SGX with a catalytic converter.

Nissan Laurel (1987-1989)

Hardtop sedan with a capped B-pillar and frameless windows

Rear view

At the end of 1987 there was a facelift with changes to the bumpers, headlights and rear lights, but in Germany it was only offered with the 2.8 l diesel. The Laurel was also used as a taxi in Germany.

The successor on the European market was the Nissan Maxima from the beginning of 1989 , which however did not reach the popularity of the Laurel.

Laurel (C33, 1989-1993)

6th generation
Nissan Laurel (1989-1993)
Production period:	1989-1993
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.8–2.5 liters (68–151 kW) Diesel engine : 2.8 liters (74 kW)
Length:	4690 mm
Width:	1695 mm
Height:	1365 mm
Wheelbase :	2670 mm
Empty weight :	1330 kg

In January 1989 the Laurel C33 debuted, which in turn was available as a four-door sedan and a hardtop sedan. The 1.8-liter four-cylinder still served as the base engine, there was also a two-liter six-cylinder with one or two overhead camshafts and a DOHC turbo variant, as well as the well-known six-cylinder diesel engine with 2.8 liters displacement.

At the beginning of 1991, a 2.5-liter DOHC in-line six-cylinder with five-speed automatic was also offered. The engines now developed up to 151 kW / 205 PS.

Laurel (C34, 1993-1997)

7th generation
Nissan Laurel (1993-1997)
Production period:	1993-1997
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engines : 2.0–2.5 liters (96–173 kW) Diesel engine : 2.8 liters (74 kW)
Length:	4710 mm
Width:	1720 mm
Height:	1390 mm
Wheelbase :	2720 ​​mm
Empty weight :	1490 kg

With the Laurel C34 presented in January 1993, the hardtop sedan was eliminated; The only body shape offered was now the ordinary B-pillar sedan. The four-cylinder was also omitted; The two-liter six-cylinder was offered in two versions (SOHC and DOHC), the DOHC 2.5-liter and the 2.8-liter diesel engine. The top version of the Laurel C34 had an RB25DET engine with 173 kW / 235 PS.

Laurel (C35, 1997-2002)

8th generation
Nissan Laurel (2000)
Production period:	1997-2002
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Petrol engines : 2.0–2.5 liters (110–206 kW) Diesel engine : 2.8 liters (74 kW)
Length:	4765 mm
Width:	1720 mm
Height:	1400 mm
Wheelbase :	2720 ​​mm
Empty weight :	1440 kg

In June 1997 the eighth and final version of the Laurel premiered. The range was further thinned out and only included variants with the DOHC two-liter, 2.5-liter petrol and 2.8-liter diesel. The sedan's output was up to 206 kW / 280 PS.

At the end of 2002 the Laurel was taken out of production. After 34 years of production, it was replaced by the Nissan Teana .

swell

• Automobil Revue , catalog numbers 1969, 1973, 1979, 1982, 1987, 1998, 2000.
• Joachim Kuch: Japanese cars. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1990, ISBN 3-613-01365-7 , pp. 191-195.

Web links

Commons : Nissan Laurel  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Nissan Laurel Taxi Brochure 1987