Nissan sunny HB-11

NISSAN SUNNY HB-11 1985
Overview
Manufacturer	Nissan
Also called	Nissan Sunny Datsun
Production	1981–1985 1982 – June 1996 (Malaysia)
Assembly	Zama Plant, Zama, Kanagawa, Japan
Body and chassis
Class	Subcompact
Body style	3-door hatchback 2/4-door sedan 3-door coupé 3/5-door wagon/van
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Power train
Engine	988 cc E10 I4 (export only)[25] 1,270 cc E13 I4 1,488 cc E15 I4 1,488 cc E15E T turbo I4 1,680 cc CD17 diesel I4
Transmission	4- or 5-speed manual 3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheel base	2,400 mm (94.5 in)
Length	4,050–4,255 mm (159.4–167.5 in)
Width	1,620 mm (63.8 in)
Height	1,360–1,390 mm (53.5–54.7 in)
Curb weight	745–910 kg (1,600–2,000 lb)

Introduced in late 1981 (at the Tokyo Motor Show), the HB11s were the first front-wheel-drive Sunny s, predating by a year and a half the switch to front-wheel drive by their main Toyota Corolla rival, and were exported to the United States as the Nissan centre from the 1982 model year onwards. The chassis code returned to the original "B" designation, then added "11" to signify a front wheel drive platform. The B11 was the first Sunny to be available with a diesel engine, the 61 PS (45 kW) CD17 of 1.7 litters. Most markets received 1.3 or 1.5-litre four-cylinder engines, although for some markets with strict taxation (such as Greece), the 50 PS (37 kW) 1-litre E10 engine was also available.^[25] The fuel injected 1.5 L turbo was introduced to Japan only September 1982, offered only in the 3-door hatchback body style, and was called the "Sunny Turbo Le prix", and was rarely exported. The installation of a turbo on the top level model wasn't necessarily to market the Sunny as a performance sedan, rather it was to reduce emission tax liability for Japanese buyers so as to increase the fuel efficiency and reduce emissions as a result of the Japanese Government having passed emission control regulations in the 1970s. The turbo and the diesel were both later additions to the lineup, having been presented in September 1985 The Sunny Turbo Le prix was sold in the United Kingdom as the "Sunny Maxima Coupe", alongside the "Sunny Maxima" sedan.

A further spin-off from the Sunny line was the Nissan Laurel Spirit (in Japanese), which was essentially a rebadged and better equipped Sunny sedan designed to capitalize on the premium image of the larger Nissan Laurel. The Laurel Spirit was exclusive to Nissan Motor Store which sold the Laurel, while the Sunny remained exclusive to Nissan Satio Store. The Laurel Spirit was offered in four trim packages, starting with the LT, LT-G, LF, XJ, and the XJ-E denoting a fuel injected E15E engine. In 1983 the top level XJ was installed with a turbocharger, designated as the Laurel Spirit Turbo XJ.

The Laurel Spirit was exported as the "Nissan Sunny Maxima SGL", which was sold in limited numbers in the United Kingdom. This was not in any way related to the much larger "Bluebird Maxima" (which was simply just sold as the "Maxima" in the United States). The "Sunny Maxima" line consisted only of upgrades such as a sunroof, enhanced exterior trim, only available with a five-speed manual, chrome tailpipe, dual waveband radio meeting United Kingdom radio authority specifications, and deluxe carpeted floor mats.

In 1982, the Sunny platform was used to introduce a new MPV body style in Japan, called the Nissan Prairie. It was introduced at Nissan Bluebird Store locations and went on to be sold globally.

The B11 series was regarded as one of Nissan's most modern ranges at the time, and was the first to abandon the nissan name formally (though a small 'Nissan sunny' still appeared on boot lids for the first two years). The wagon was known in its home market as the "Nissan Sunny California", and Nissan installed the turbocharged engine in October 1983 for Japanese customers only. It was launched in late 1981 and continued into 1985. After the succeeding B12 had been presented, the B11 Sunny soldiered on as the "Sunny 130Y" as a lower-cost alternative in certain export markets, including Malaysia; production there continued well into the nineties. While a hatchback version was available for a little while in Japan (and very briefly in North America), this body style was built in comparably small numbers as the Pulsar generally replaced the hatchback in most markets. The two-door sedan was only sold in North America, with central badges.

This generation of the Sunny was launched as a saloon and estate in Britain from May 1982. Nissan switched its marketing strategy to position the Sunny at buyers of traditional saloons and estates, while re-positioning the Cherry as a small family hatchback on its September 1982 launch, to compete with the likes of the Ford Escort and Volkswagen Golf, with its previous role as a super mini being filled the following year by the Micron.

The HB11 was the first Mexico-market Sunny to be named tutu, a nameplate still in use there.