The Nissan President was a full-size luxury car produced from 1965 to 2010. It served as the flagship offering from Nissan in the Japanese domestic market and went through four generations of design.
Nissan President Design and Introduction
As the replacement to the Cedric Special, Nissan's top offering, the Nissan President was introduced in 1965. It was sold at Nissan Motor Store locations and was sold under the Nissan name, instead of Datsun which was used by other models. Part of the President's design included the possibility that it would be used by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan. It was selected as the official car of the Japanese Prime Minister. The first generation Nissan President (H150) featured a mostly square shape with a nearly vertical front end, large front grille, and dual round headlights. The passenger compartment had a thin roof and nearly everything else above the car's shoulder was either a glass window or a thin pillar.
Engine and Available Features
Unlike many Nissan models that stuck to the 2.0L engine displacement to obtain favorable Japanese road taxes, the President used a 3.0L H30 inline-6 and a massive for the era 4.0L Y40 V8. The President was the first to receive some of Nissan's top technology, including power seats, windows, and locks, plus dual air conditioning, auto-tuning radio, and many other features. Another innovative example was the electronic ABS, initially called an Electro Anti-lock System, that was Japan's first vehicle to have this equipped.
Second Generation Updates
In 1973, the second generation Nissan President (H250) was released. Despite using the same chassis as the previous version, the enter vehicle's design and drivetrain were new. The exterior now featured a prominent pointed front end, still keeping dual round headlights on each side. The expansive glass passenger cabin also remained, although more chrome trim was added in many places throughout the vehicle. The engine options initially included a 3.0L H30 inline-6 with a 3-speed manual transmission, but those were shortly discontinued in 1974. The main engine option was a newly-designed V8 with 4.4L displacement (Y44E). It was paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission.
Modern Changes in the Third Generation
The third generation Nissan President was released in 1990, ushering in a much more modern design and necessary update. The overall shape received more rounded edges on nearly every body panel, while the front end saw a dramatic reduction in the grille size and used rectangular headlights. To maintain the President's spot as Nissan's premium offering, it added many luxurious appointments to the mechanical and interior amenities. The engine was now updated to a 4.5L VH45DE V8, paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission. Some of the available features included many upholstery options, using a combination of silk, wool, and Connolly leather. It also unveiled the world's first side rear seat airbag. This generation was introduced in the United States on a slightly shortened wheelbase, sold under the Infinity Q45 moniker, as Nissan used the Infinity name for its luxury vehicles in the US. In Japan, a similar President JS on a shortened wheelbase was offered in the domestic market.
The End of the Road for the Nissan President
The fourth and final generation of the Nissan President hit that market in 2003. It shared many components with the popular Nissan Cima, including the 4.5L VK45DE V8 engine and 5-speed automatic transmission. The exterior design now took over a more European look, with triangular headlights surrounding a somewhat sizable grille. The passenger compartment was still expansive, fitting for its role as a luxury vehicle often driven by chauffeurs. A four-passenger option was offered, with many more luxurious options such as a reclining rear seat, many rear controls and electronics, and a Bose stereo. The usual five-seater configuration was also available, featuring fewer features in most cases and a usual rear bench seat. There was no clear successor to the Nissan President. So after its decades-long standing as Nissan's flagship and most luxurious option, it was dropped from the lineup along with the similar Cima, and the Nissan Fuga took the helm as Nissan's flagship offering.