Nissan Rasheen

This article incorporates information from the equivalent article on the Japanese Wikipedia.

Nissan Rasheen

Manufacturer	Takada Kogyo, Yokohama[1]
Production	1994 - 2000
Successor	Nissan X-Trail
Body style	5-door SUV
Layout	AWD
Engine	1.5 L GA15DE I4 1.8 L SR18DE I4 2.0 L SR20DE I4
Transmission	4 speed automatic 5 speed manual
Wheelbase	2,430 mm (95.7 in)
Length	4,210 mm (165.7 in)
Width	1,720 mm (67.7 in))
Height	1,515 mm (59.6 in)
Curb weight	1,310 kg (2,900 lb)

The Nissan Rasheen is a small SUV with 4x4 produced from November 1994 to August 2000 by Nissan. A prototype was first shown at the October 1993 Tokyo Auto show. It was offered with three different engines: from the original 1.5 GA15DE, to a larger 1.8 liter SR18DE, and finally a 2.0 SR20DE in the Rasheen Forza. The car has five seats and a rugged, quirky and angularly styled body. It is a very small and short 4WD that is often compared to Eastern European cars in design, particularly the Wartburg 353, but is also reminiscent of Nissan's "Pike" cars (Be-1, Pao, Figaro, and S-Cargo). As for the Be-1 and Figaro, Rasheen production was carried out by Nissan's specialist subsidiary Takada Kogyo.^[1]

It had full time four wheel drive, Nissan's ATTESA powertrain system. This is a viscous coupling that determines where to send torque based on traction situations. It was available for sale a couple of years before the Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V, and the Toyota RAV4 in Japan. Originally only built with a 105 PS (77 kW) 1.5 liter four, the 125 PS (92 kW) 1.8 liter engine was added to the lineup in January 1997, only available with the automatic transmission.^[2] After having been shown at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show, the even bigger SR20DE-engined Rasheen Forza was added in July 1998. This produced 145 metric horsepower (107 kW). By August of 2000 production had come to a halt, amidst the restructuring following Carlos Ghosn's 'Nissan Revival Plan'.

The Rasheen shared its platform with the B14 series Nissan Sunny and also used powertrain components from the N14 series Nissan Pulsar with 4WD. ABS brakes were introduced September 1996 along with various trim packages introduced during the production period. Its chassis code is NB14.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "髙田工業株式会社: 会社紹介: 沿革: 1990～1999 [Takada Kogyo - About Us: History: 1990-99]" (in Japanese). Takada Kogyo. 2009. http://www.takada-kogyo.jp/company/history.html#y1990. 
2. ^ Büschi, Hans-Ulrich, ed (March 6, 1997) (in German/French). Automobil Revue 1997. 92. Berne, Switzerland: Hallwag AG. p. 413. ISBN 3-444-10479-0. 

External links

• Nissan Rasheen