1993 Nissan Figaro, J415 CPU
J415 CPU at Ellough Airfield, Beccles, Suffolk during a Figaro owner meeting.
Designed by Naoki Sakai and Shoji Takahashi, the Figaro is a two door car with a 2+2 seating arrangement manufactured by Nissan in 1991 for the Japanese market. Based on the first generation Nissan Micra, the Figaro shares the Micra's front engine, front wheel drive layout.
A total of 20,073 Figaro's were produced by Nissan in the convertible's single year of series production, all with right-hand drive. At first, 8,000 were manufactured, and then an additional 12,000 were built to meet demand. Prospective purchasers entered a lottery to acquire a Figaro.
At least several thousand have been imported to Great Britain and Ireland. There are also a few examples of left-hand drive conversions.
Nissan introduced the Figaro at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show, using 'Back to the Future' as its marketing tagline. The Figaro was manufactured by Aichi Machine Industry, a special projects group that Nissan would later call 'Pike Factory'.
The Figaro uses a 987 cc (60.23 cu. in.) MA10ET turbocharged engine generating 75 hp (56 kW), a three speed automatic transmission, front MacPherson struts, rear four link coil spring suspension, rack and pinion steering, and front ventilated disc and rear drum brakes. The Figaro can reach a top speed of 106 mph (171 km/h).
The car features a retro style design on both the interior and exterior, taking inspiration from cars of the 1950's as well as from elements of 1930's Art Deco design. Notable retro exterior design elements include the round headlights and taillights, chrome trim, wheels designed to mimic whitewall tires and fixed-profile convertible body style. As a fixed-profile convertible, the upper side elements of the Figaro's bodywork remain fixed while its fabric soft top retracts in conjunction with a solid panel with a defroster equipped glass rear window, as seen in other fixed-profile convertibles, including the original 1957 Fiat 500 and the Citroën 2CV.
Standard equipment on the interior included ivory leather seats with contrasting piping, air conditioning, CD player, cassette tape player, chrome and Bakelite-style knobs, soft-feel paint on the dashboard top, chrome trimmed speedometer with smaller inset gauges for fuel and engine temperature, and chrome trimmed tachometer with inset clock.
Exterior paint colours represented the four seasons, Topaz Mist (autumn), Emerald Green (spring), Pale Aqua (summer) and Lapis Grey (winter).
Limited edition cars came with passenger side baskets and cup holders.
Length: 147.2 in. (3,740 mm)
Width: 64.2 in. (1,630 mm)
Height: 53.7 in. (1,365 mm)
Wheelbase: 90.6 in. (2,300 mm)
Curb weight: 1,790 lb. (810 kg)
1993 Nissan Figaro, J415 CPU
J415 CPU at Ellough Airfield, Beccles, Suffolk during a Figaro owner meeting.
Designed by Naoki Sakai and Shoji Takahashi, the Figaro is a two door car with a 2+2 seating arrangement manufactured by Nissan in 1991 for the Japanese market. Based on the first generation Nissan Micra, the Figaro shares the Micra's front engine, front wheel drive layout.
A total of 20,073 Figaro's were produced by Nissan in the convertible's single year of series production, all with right-hand drive. At first, 8,000 were manufactured, and then an additional 12,000 were built to meet demand. Prospective purchasers entered a lottery to acquire a Figaro.
At least several thousand have been imported to Great Britain and Ireland. There are also a few examples of left-hand drive conversions.
Nissan introduced the Figaro at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show, using 'Back to the Future' as its marketing tagline. The Figaro was manufactured by Aichi Machine Industry, a special projects group that Nissan would later call 'Pike Factory'.
The Figaro uses a 987 cc (60.23 cu. in.) MA10ET turbocharged engine generating 75 hp (56 kW), a three speed automatic transmission, front MacPherson struts, rear four link coil spring suspension, rack and pinion steering, and front ventilated disc and rear drum brakes. The Figaro can reach a top speed of 106 mph (171 km/h).
The car features a retro style design on both the interior and exterior, taking inspiration from cars of the 1950's as well as from elements of 1930's Art Deco design. Notable retro exterior design elements include the round headlights and taillights, chrome trim, wheels designed to mimic whitewall tires and fixed-profile convertible body style. As a fixed-profile convertible, the upper side elements of the Figaro's bodywork remain fixed while its fabric soft top retracts in conjunction with a solid panel with a defroster equipped glass rear window, as seen in other fixed-profile convertibles, including the original 1957 Fiat 500 and the Citroën 2CV.
Standard equipment on the interior included ivory leather seats with contrasting piping, air conditioning, CD player, cassette tape player, chrome and Bakelite-style knobs, soft-feel paint on the dashboard top, chrome trimmed speedometer with smaller inset gauges for fuel and engine temperature, and chrome trimmed tachometer with inset clock.
Exterior paint colours represented the four seasons, Topaz Mist (autumn), Emerald Green (spring), Pale Aqua (summer) and Lapis Grey (winter).
Limited edition cars came with passenger side baskets and cup holders.
Length: 147.2 in. (3,740 mm)
Width: 64.2 in. (1,630 mm)
Height: 53.7 in. (1,365 mm)
Wheelbase: 90.6 in. (2,300 mm)
Curb weight: 1,790 lb. (810 kg)