The Nissan Langley was a subcompact car built from 1980 to 1990.
Nissan Langley Design and Introduction
The first-generation Nissan Langley was introduced in 1980 to the Japanese domestic market and sold exclusively at Nissan Prince Store dealership locations. The Langley shared many design features with the Nissan Pulsar, but was fitted with slightly more refined features and reached upmarket in comparison to the Pulsar. The name came from the inventor of a device used to measure the Sun’s radiation called the bolometer, Samuel Pierpont Langley. He is regarded as a pioneer in aviation, astronomy, and solar physics. The Langley was also known as a mini Skyline thanks to its peppy drive in a smaller, more manageable package. It also helped fill the gap left when the Nissan Silvia moved up to a larger platform, allowing the Langley to serve those who still wanted a smaller vehicle. The exterior design was pragmatic, with an elongated hood leaving plenty of room for the engine, a somewhat sizable passenger cabin for a subcompact model, and a boxy rear trunk that maximized the space. It used angles and sharp lines of the day, with a minimalistic B pillar and near-vertical front and rear bumpers.
Engine and Suspension
There were two engine choices for the first-generation Nissan Langley. These were both 1.5L inline-4 designs, with the A15 and E15 being the specific engines used. The E15 had multi-point fuel injection on some models, producing around 74 horsepower in the Japanese variants, while the A15 had a slightly higher output of 79 horsepower. The suspension used the popular MacPherson struts in the front and trailing arm coils in the rear, providing a stable road feel that was practical and affordable.
Second Generation Nissan Langley
In 1982, the N12 Pulsar and updated Langley hit the market. Nissan included a slight facelift, using more defined angles in the exterior shape. It was available as a sedan or hatchback. In a change of pace for Nissan which regularly used different monikers for the same car depending on the market sold, the Pulsar was the name used in nearly every market worldwide. However, the Langley was still kept as a Japanese domestic market product sold in Nissan Prince Store locations, alongside the Skyline. It also sold another version of the Langley called the Liberty Villa at the Nissan Bluebird Shop, and the Langley name was used on Pulsars sold in Malaysia and South Africa. A 1.5L inline-4 gasoline E15ET engine was used on most Langley vehicles, although a CD17 diesel engine was also offered as an option. A unique feature of this model is the rear locks were remotely operated from the front seat, along with rear child locks that could be operated from a lever underneath the driver’s seat.
Langley Third Generation Updates
In 1986, the N13 Pulsar and Langley was released. Despite much of the subcompact market moving toward a more rounded shape aimed at increasing aerodynamic qualities and fuel efficiency, the Langley held strong with its angular, somewhat boxy shape. The Langley continued to be sold as the upmarket Pulsar option, while the nearly-identical Liberty Villa was sold at other Japan-based dealerships with nearly identical features. This generation received unique front-end styling for the Langley and Liberty Villa. Three-door and five-door options remained available. The engine remained an inline-4, using the higher-end options from the Pulsar in the Langley. A limited-slip differential was part of the upgrades available, along with a more luxurious interior and a unique grille design. When the N14 Pulsar was released in 1990, the Langley was discontinued and replaced with the Nissan Primera.