Volkswagen Passat by Nissan

[cawimmer430]

Interesting stuff. I like obscure automotive stories like this. 


This Volkswagen is a Nissan

This looks like a Volkswagen. It says Volkswagen on the back. But it's a Nissan.

It's a VW Santana, built and sold by Nissan in Japan and for the Japanese market. The Japanese-built cars were almost identical to their German-built counterparts. The only structural differences were that the Nissan-built cars were 5mm narrower for Japanese tax purposes and they got right-hand-drive windshield wipers.



You could think of this Japanese Santana as something like the captive imports we had in America from the '70s through the '90s, where you'd get things like American-built Toyota Corollas sold as Chevy Novas.

Except what's so strange about this Santana is that despite getting an internal Nissan production code, the car was still badged as a VW. Every driver stared at a VW logo on the steering wheel and their car got German model names like 'Autobahn' and 'Meisterwerk,' like the one pictured above.




The ads even were spelled out in German, though the announcer spoke Japanese.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=21sbn2x2jYA


The whole operation was supposed to act as a stepping stone to a full a VW-Nissan partnership, but Japanese production only lasted from '84 to '89, and VW sales in Nissan dealerships ended in '91 when VW started toying around with Toyota.

In the end, all we have left is this strange, orphaned Nissan VW.




What Wikipedia says:

Aiming at a full partnership with Volkswagen, Nissan's then President Takashi Ishihara decided that producing the Santana for the Japanese market would be a good stepping stone. Negotiations began in 1981, and by February 1984, Nissan begun license production of the Santana at its Zama plant in Kanagawa, Japan. The Nissan Santana received the internal model code M30. The price of the Nissan Santana was considerably lower than of imported Volkswagens.

Nissan's Santana was changed for Japan with a right hand drive wiper layout (parking on the passenger side) which, as well as a new linkage mechanism, also required a new bonnet pressing as there were recesses in the trailing edge for the wiper pivots. VW-built cars, in common with some of the maker's other models at this time, such as the MKII Golf, had the same LHD wiper pattern regardless of steering wheel location. At introduction, the Nissan Santana was available with three different engines: A 100 PS (74 kW) 1781 cc four (Li, Gi), a 110 PS (81 kW) 1,994 cc five (Gi5, Xi5) and a 72 PS (53 kW) 1,588 cc turbodiesel four (Lt, Gt Diesel Turbo). All came with a five-speed manual transmission as standard, while the gasoline engines were also available with a three-speed automatic. The Nissan Santana was 5 mm narrower than its German counterparts, so as to avoid a massive Japanese tax on cars wider than 1690 mm. Additionally, the grille and headlights were unique to the M30 Santana.


In May 1985 the Xi5 Autobahn version was added to the lineup, offering velour sports seats, electric sunroof and 14-inch alloy wheels. In January 1987 the Santana received a facelift, with a new fascia and new larger bumpers. The Turbodiesel was discontinued, leaving only gasoline-engined versions. The 1.8-litre Gi version was down to 91 PS (67 kW), while the Li and Gi5 equipment grades were dropped. The Xi5 Autobahn was now available with a new engine, however, as a DOHC version of the 2-litre five appeared with 140 PS (103 kW). With sales, originally aimed at 4,000-5,000 per month, only having reached 50,000 over seven years, Nissan ended production in October 1989. Sales of remaining stock continued until May 1990. Instead of renewing the production license, they began selling the new third-generation Volkswagen Passat through their dealer network. As Volkswagen and Toyota began cooperating in 1991, sales of Volkswagens through Nissan dealers came to a halt





1985–89 Volkswagen Santana "Autobahn" (JDM-spec)









Link: http://jalopnik.com/this-volkswagen-is-a-nissan-1591951125

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Santana#Santana_.28Japan.29

[FoMoJo]

I had no idea .

[Laconian]

VW Santana 2000s were really popular in China the last time I visited.

[cawimmer430]

I had no idea .

History & Heritage 

[cawimmer430]

VW Santana 2000s were really popular in China the last time I visited.

The car is still popular as the Volkswagen Parati in South American markets. 

[2o6]

The car is still popular as the Volkswagen Parati in South American markets. 

Not the same car. That's a VW Gol, which was sold in the US and other markets as the VW Fox.

The Santana was sold in the US as the Quantum, and is a bigger car.

[2o6]

VW Santana 2000s were really popular in China the last time I visited.

They still make them. For awhile, VW still made the Jetta II, III, IV, V, and VI all at the same time in China.


Same with the Passat. (Sagittar, Magotan)

[cawimmer430]

Not the same car. That's a VW Gol, which was sold in the US and other markets as the VW Fox.

The Santana was sold in the US as the Quantum, and is a bigger car.

Ah, I could have sworn these were based on the same platform.

[AltinD]

and the 2000's clone

[2o6]

and the 2000's clone

Those look nothing alike. Like not even close.

[SVT_Power]

Those look nothing alike. Like not even close.

What do you mean? They both have hoods, trunks, roofs, various glass parts, AND FOUR WHEELS!

[Galaxy]

On a similar note. This Toyota is a VW.



VW Taro, which was a Toyota Hilux.

[cawimmer430]

I've only ever seen one Volkswagen Taro on the road. And it was literally a rust bucket. How did it ever make it through the TÜV??? 

[AltinD]

Those look nothing alike. Like not even close.

The roof line ... even the designers admitted it

[AutobahnSHO]

and the 2000's clone

Those look nothing alike. Like not even close.

You're crazy, look at the c-pillar and needless corner windows. The lines are very very similar. Biggest difference really is the headlights.

[MexicoCityM3]

That generation Passat was called "Corsar" here in Mexico, That car was highly sought after and respected. I remember an uncle got one and seeing it at my grandfathers house.

[Raza]

That generation Passat was called "Corsar" here in Mexico, That car was highly sought after and respected. I remember an uncle got one and seeing it at my grandfathers house.

It was a great car.  I loved mine.

[AltinD]

I LOOOOOVED mine too (2002 - 2008)

[giant_mtb]

It's a very simple, clean design, inside and out.