HP10

After reading Patrick Callahan's post over at The Real JDM about bringing uniqueness to the world of "JDM" tuning, I couldn't help but think of one of my favorite underdog platforms, the HP10 Nissan Primera/Infiniti G20.

Originally imported to the United States in the early 90's as an entry level sport sedan to compete with the BMW 3 series, the car's front wheel drive layout, compact car roots and lack of engine choices kept the car from being a mainstream success. The G20 was eventually replaced by the massively successful, Skyline-based Infiniti G35.

While the car never really caught on with luxury car buyers, it offers a lot of potential as a project car. Even in stock form, the car offers a decent driving experience with its tight suspension and naturally aspirated version of Nissan's famous SR20 engine. The car also has its motorsport credentials as it appeared in both the British and Japanese touring car championship series under the Nissan Primera nameplate.

I like the car because it offers the look and feel of a compact European sedan while retaining Japanese simplicity. When it comes to power, there are a number of options available, both naturally aspirated and turbocharged.

When going the turbo route there are many shared components with the famous Nissan Pulsar GTI-R and its individual throttle body-fed SR20DET.

The naturally aspirated route also offers a lot of potential. The car is perfect candidate for Nissan's later model variable valve timing equipped VE-series SR engines. The VE motors are easily capable of 200hp with little modification.

Here are a few examples of tuned Primera's in Japan-

 

The car was even popular enough to get its own Hyper Rev book.

Used G20's can be found now for well under 2 grand now, making them a perfect start for a low buck, yet unique project.

Anyone other Primera fans out there?

The Real JDM - Dare to be Different

JTCC: Japan's Forgotten Racing Series

Comments

[HoTWire]

Funny you should say that.. as detailed in the new RSM feature : http://www.retroscenemag.com/Features/Articles/GoodwoodFOSPress/index.html I got a ride up a hill climb in the British Touring Car Championship Primera, it was amazingly fast. Now I want a Primera! haha

[luke@importtuner]

Couldn't agree more. I love these cars, too.

The P10 G20s can be found for about $1000 all day long over here (Cali), and the P11's for not too much more... can't understand why they're not more popular, especially given the relative popularity of B13 and 14 Sentras.

I can't recall seeing well-built, tuned G20 anywhere state-side in the past few years :-( Not Cool!

[Patrick Callahan]

Wow, Mike, I'm quite honored to show up on your blog as I'm a personal fan. I'll be dropping you an e-mail, but I just wanted to say that I came extremely close to using the Primera/G20 as my example for Dare to be Different. The only reason I didn't use it was because the racing examples I know of (BTCC mostly) were modified to the point that it's hard to say how relevant they are to the street. It's cool to see the street examples you showed. Keep living the dream!

[RR]

P10 Nissan Primera GT (SR20DE, 150ps) was my first can ever. I have that car still in my memories... thanks for that article.

PS: Im still driving SR20 powered car! :)

[Vince]

I'm a huge fan of the Primera/G20's since the NATCC,BTCC,JTCC series opening and i still wish they kept those series running but like Luke said those cars were far from being a normal off the shelf street car. I'm a saloon fan and most of the saloons i build end up having a touring feel/look to them.

[Jim Wang]

HP10 is one of the best chassis platform for a production sedan. If anyone decide to race this car on road courses they would have lots of fun. The chassis is stiff, so capable using soft tire without the chassis binding. I had a G20T HP10 and was able to have lots of fun in the canyons. This car has be under rated. The SR20 power plant with minor mods can really allow the driver to drive the car nearly at peak... I missed mine :(

[Burabuda]

my daily is a '95 p10, silver w/black leather; sports interior; lsd; moonroof 8)
took me a long time to find it, and i can't imagine ever selling it
it's quite simply the best car i've ever owned
13 years old and drives better than many brand-new small japanese sedans
great steering; handling; irs; quiet and stable on the freeway
legendary sr20de. my fav engine of all time
designed and built during the era that nissan had dozens of different models overlapping each other
nissan could not build this car today; ghosn and his escargot counters would never allow it
i wonder if prince division played a part in the p10's design?
i do know that the p10 was not designed with usdm in mind; nor did nissan have any plans to export
however, infiniti had just started up and needed a few stop-gap cars
i'm so thankful that happened, else it would've been just another cool nissan that never made it to the usa
i heard from a nissan insider that nissan lost on every p10 sold here
and remember that infiniti couldn't give them away at the time
not many people equated luxury with 4cyl
the p11 was cheaper to build, and nissan cut corners on that car
they ARE NOT the same car
if you're lifestyle demands you own a newer nissan, so be it, but DON'T SELL your P10 !!!

[Jim]

My daily driver is a '93.5 G20 that I bought cheaply with drivetrain problems. I installed a VLSD manual tranny from a B13 SE-R, header, exhaust, and JDM 180SX wheels (look just like USDM P11 wheels, wider offset). I have a '92 B13 Sentra SE-R with more done to it as a track/autocross toy. Stock for stock, the P10 is a better handling car, but its weight shows in a straight line. An unmodified SR20DE motivates the B13/B14 much better than the P10/P11.

I got the G20 to just drive around, but I wound up loving it. It wants to be driven hard just like a SE-R, but it's so much nicer to drive every day. Really an overlooked car among used buys.

I have to mention one point where Nissan misread the American market: the P10 was sold here six years, and it never had any cupholders!

[Logan]

My daily is a 1992 G20 that was a hand me down

Super reliable, only crapped out on me for normal stuff like battery, alternator, and fuel pump

Tires are cheap cause they are 14's, and gas mileage is all good

My a/c is busted though, damn R12 haha

Plus too 5 speed keeps it lively driving on boring LA/OC streets

Keep up the good work! Auto Otaku is awesome!

[smith frenzy]

I, too, am a huge P10 fan. Got mine used from a friend and proceeded to go the TCC route, starting with Advan TC wheels, dropping it with Tein suspension, and proceeding for the full "light tune." Never finished the job because I stacked her doing 120 kph in a 30 zone in Tsukuba. Loved that car to death.

My rebound car was a AE101 Trueno--tricked it out significantly more than the P10, but never drove it as hard.