N14 ES

Sadly, one of the best cars ever made here also helped bury Nissan as a local manufacturer.

The fourth generation Pulsar, known as the ES, was truly all-new – from the Saab 9000-inspired four-door hatch and sedan body styles, classy cabin design and Japanese twin-cam multi-valve drivetrains, to the world-class manufacturing process that achieved new local quality levels.

But its huge investment in recessional times and the necessary price premium on a product tarnished by discounting scuppered the big sales Nissan sorely needed.

But the ES did win wide acclaim for its high performance, refinement, handling and comfort and qualities.

The base 81kW 1.6 powered the GLi and Q hatch, while the Q 2.O, sports SSS hatch and luxury Ti offered a rorty 105kW 2.0.

Also still novel for the segment were the optional anti-lock brakes on the SSS and a four-speed automatic.

These were the last Aussie-made Pulsars, produced here until the Victorian plant closed in October ’92.