Nissan S15 Silvia
The Nissan S15 Silvia has won more D1 Grand Prix Events than any other drift car with a total of 19 wins! The Silvia model is known for having excellent weight distribution, rear wheel drive, LSD (a more effective helical limited slip unit to be exact), the turbo SR20DET engine, and nice suspension setup. All of these components together make the S15 Silvia a drift ready car from the Nissan factory.
In 1999, Japan saw a new version of the Nissan S15 Silvia now boasting 250 horsepower (184 kW) from its SR20DET engine, thanks to a turbocharger upgrade, as well as improved engine management. The SR20DE (non-turbo motor) only has 165 horsepower (121 kW).
The S15 Silvia includes aggressive styling inside and out, an upgraded chassis and suspension, including increased use of light alloy suspension components, and for the first time, a six-speed manual transmission (in addition to a 5-speed manual transmission and a four-speed automatic). Also for the first time, instead of a viscous limited slip differential, the S15 offered a more effective helical limited slip unit.
For the S15 Silvia, the model lineup was initially simplified to just the Spec-S (non-turbo) and Spec-R (turbo), both models offering an “Aero” variant with a large rear wing and mild ground effects. The Spec-R featured the available 6-speed manual transmission, increased body and suspension rigidity, big 4-piston front brake calipers, a larger brake power booster, upgraded helical limited slip differential, and HICAS (High Capacity Active Steering) four wheel steering as an option; the Spec-S featured only a 5-speed manual transmission (in addition to a 4-speed automatic available on both the Spec-S and the Spec-R), lacks the additional support structures of the Spec-R, 2-piston front brake calipers, a slightly smaller brake power booster, and the viscous limited slip differential. The line was later expanded to include various luxury and upgrade option packages for both the Spec-S and Spec-R. Autech, Nissan’s special-car division, also offered several tuned versions of the S15. One with body and interior trim modeled after the Ferrari 456, called the style-A, available in both Spec-S and Spec-R based trims, and a second tuned version was based of the Spec-S trim level with the engine output increased to 200 hp through the use of increased compression, more aggressive camshafts, and free-breathing intake and exhaust tracts, along with ECU tuning and upgrades to the chassis and suspension. This version also included the 6-speed transmission and other upgrades normally found only in the Spec-R.
There was also a convertible variant of the Silvia, called the Varietta, featuring a folding retractable hardtop. The Varietta was built by Autech and was based off of the Spec-S model, featuring the same naturally aspirated engine, with a choice of the 4-speed automatic transmission or the 5-speed manual transmission.
Production of the Silvia ended in August of 2002 amidst Nissan’s efforts to reduce its many platforms. Nissan’s sole sports car platform in the world is now the FM Platform, which underpins the current Fairlady Z and Skyline - marketed in the United States as the 350Z and Infiniti G35.
Nissan 180sx
The Nissan 180SX was a hatchback coupe (though Nissan marketed it as a fastback in most of its markets) based on the S13 chassis from the Nissan S platform, and sold only in Japan (although sold in some other countries under the 200SX name)[1]. In North America, it was sold as the Nissan 240SX fastback. It was sold as a sister model to the Nissan Silvia from model year 1989 through 1998. The S13 Silvia was discontinued in 1993, but the 180SX was successful enough to convince Nissan to keep it in the market for the full length of the next generation Silvia's tenure. The 180SX is not the same as the 200sx differed from the S13 Silvia in that it featured pop-up headlamps, and a fastback roof with a liftgate. Specifications and equipment were similar, however the naturally-aspirated CA18DE engine was not offered.
The name 180SX was originally in reference to the 1.8 liter displacement CA18DET engine used in the chassis. In 1991, however, the engine was upgraded to a 2.0 liter model, offered in two forms: the naturally-aspirated SR20DE engine and the turbocharged SR20DET variant. Although the new engine was of larger displacement, the 180SX nomenclature remained. A common body modification to the 180SX and its sister car, the North American 240SX fastback, is the Sileighty conversion.
180SX was also a trim level of the S110 Silvia in Europe. The badges for this model read "Silvia 180SX", so this car is not properly a 180SX by model, but a version of the Silvia instead.
Other discrepancies from this standard were distributed to Micronesia and South Pacific islands, including LHD cars with 180sx badges and non-retractable headlamps.
Like the Japanese 180SX SR20DET discrepancy, European, as well as South African models of the S13 chassis were called 200SX though equipped with the CA18DET engine.
In Europe the car was sold as a 200sx and only featured the ca18det engine producing 170 bhp through the rear wheels, taking it to 60 in 6.7 seconds and onto 137mph The car had a facelift in 1992 with new smoother bumpers, LSD and larger brakes.This model was sold between 1989 and 1994 until the change to the 200sx s14 version.
The 180SX is a popular car for use in the motorsport of drifting. It is popular with all levels of driver from beginners through to professionals with many high level drivers within the sport currently using the vehicle. Currently the 2007 D1 Grand Prix champion Masato Kawabata drives a 180SX (although he won the 2007 title in a Nissan Silvia) as does the 2007 D1 Street Legal champion Kazuya Matsukawa.
Nissan 200sx
From 1995 to 1998 Nissan applied the name "200SX" to two different lines of automobiles in different markets these years.
In 1995, Nissan reintroduced the 200SX nameplate in United States and Canada to designate a two-door version of the Nissan Sentra (B14 chassis, a front wheel drive car), known in Japan as Lucino, replacing the Sentra coupe and Nissan NX (discontinued in 1993). The 200SX came in base, SE, and sportier SE-R models. All shared their front-end appearance, front-drive chassis, dashboard, and many dimensions with the Nissan Sentra (Japanese: Nissan Lucino). Base and SE editions shared Sentra's twin-cam GA16DE engine 4-cylinder engine. The SE-R inherited the 140-horsepower 2.0 L SR20DE engine used in the previous 2-door Sentra SE-R. All three came with a 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic, and were equipped with dual airbags. Antilock brakes were optional in the SE and SE-R. The price, new: $15,269-17,549
1997 Nissan 200SX: the base model adopted the same interior trim as its SE and SE-R companions.
1998 Nissan 200SX: All models got new headlights, revised bumpers, and white-face gauges. Also, base models replaced 13-inch (330 mm) wheels with 14-inchers. 200SX did not return for '99 but its 140 horsepower (100 kW) engine continued in the 4-door Sentra.
The 240SX is a two-door compact car that was introduced to the North American market by Nissan in 1988 for the following model year. It replaced the outgoing 200SX (S12) model. All versions of the 240SX were equipped with the 2.4-liter inline 4 engine (KA24E from 1989–1990 and KA24DE from 1991–1998). Two distinct generations of the 240SX, the S13 (1989–1994) and the S14 (1995–1998), were produced based on the Nissan S platform. The 240SX is closely related to other S platform based vehicles, such as the Japanese-market Silvia and 180SX, and the European-market 200SX.
Although their names are similar, the 240SX is unrelated to the 240Z.
Nissan 180sx
The name 180SX was originally in reference to the 1.8 liter displacement CA18DET engine used in the chassis. In 1991, however, the engine was upgraded to a 2.0 liter model, offered in two forms: the naturally-aspirated SR20DE engine and the turbocharged SR20DET variant. Although the new engine was of larger displacement, the 180SX nomenclature remained. A common body modification to the 180SX and its sister car, the North American 240SX fastback, is the Sileighty conversion.
180SX was also a trim level of the S110 Silvia in Europe. The badges for this model read "Silvia 180SX", so this car is not properly a 180SX by model, but a version of the Silvia instead.
Other discrepancies from this standard were distributed to Micronesia and South Pacific islands, including LHD cars with 180sx badges and non-retractable headlamps.
Like the Japanese 180SX SR20DET discrepancy, European, as well as South African models of the S13 chassis were called 200SX though equipped with the CA18DET engine.
In Europe the car was sold as a 200sx and only featured the ca18det engine producing 170 bhp through the rear wheels, taking it to 60 in 6.7 seconds and onto 137mph The car had a facelift in 1992 with new smoother bumpers, LSD and larger brakes.This model was sold between 1989 and 1994 until the change to the 200sx s14 version.
Drifting
Yoshinori Koguchi drifting his Nissan 180SX at a D1 Grand Prix competition at Fuji Speedway, Shizuoka, Japan, in late 2007.
Nissan 200sx
From 1995 to 1998 Nissan applied the name "200SX" to two different lines of automobiles in different markets these years.
In 1995, Nissan reintroduced the 200SX nameplate in United States and Canada to designate a two-door version of the Nissan Sentra (B14 chassis, a front wheel drive car), known in Japan as Lucino, replacing the Sentra coupe and Nissan NX (discontinued in 1993). The 200SX came in base, SE, and sportier SE-R models. All shared their front-end appearance, front-drive chassis, dashboard, and many dimensions with the Nissan Sentra (Japanese: Nissan Lucino). Base and SE editions shared Sentra's twin-cam GA16DE engine 4-cylinder engine. The SE-R inherited the 140-horsepower 2.0 L SR20DE engine used in the previous 2-door Sentra SE-R. All three came with a 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic, and were equipped with dual airbags. Antilock brakes were optional in the SE and SE-R. The price, new: $15,269-17,549
Year to year changes
1996 Nissan 200SX: The SE and SE-R gained new body-colored mirrors and door panels.1997 Nissan 200SX: the base model adopted the same interior trim as its SE and SE-R companions.
1998 Nissan 200SX: All models got new headlights, revised bumpers, and white-face gauges. Also, base models replaced 13-inch (330 mm) wheels with 14-inchers. 200SX did not return for '99 but its 140 horsepower (100 kW) engine continued in the 4-door Sentra.
Although their names are similar, the 240SX is unrelated to the 240Z.
