Nissan Pao

Pao

Manufacturer	Nissan Motors (by Aichi Machine Industry)[1]
Production	1989-1991
Assembly	Nagoya, Japan
Engine	1.0 L (987 cc) MA10S I4
Wheelbase	2300 mm (91 in)
Length	3740 mm (147 in)
Width	1570 mm (62 in)
Height	1475 mm (58 in)
Curb weight	720–760 kg (1590–1675 lb)
Related	Nissan Be-1 Nissan Figaro Nissan March
Designer	Yoshiro Kobata

The Nissan Pao, first announced at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1987, is a retro-styled automobile from Nissan Motors. It was available as a three-door hatchback with or without a textile sun roof ("canvas-top"), the canvas top being the most collectible. The Pao was one of three fashionable spinoffs of the K10 Micra — the Figaro and Be-1 being the other two. Like the Figaro, the Pao was sold without the Nissan name and only by reservation from January 15 through April 14, 1989; orders were served according to their date of placing. The Pao sold out in 3 months and remains a sought after and collectible car, with only about 10,000 made.^[2]

According to the article on Japanese Wikipedia, the name is a Chinese word describing a type of house used by nomads in Mongolia for assembly or meetings.

History

Part of Nissan's "Pike" series, it was designed as a fashionable city car in the mold of the Be-1.The Be-1, Pao, Figaro, and S-Cargo were attempts to create cars with designs as desirable as those of Panasonic, Sony, and other personal electronics products.^[2]

The engine was the March/Micra's 1.0 L (987 cc) MA10S, coupled with a three-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual transmission, the manual being the more sought after. The engine produced 52 PS (38 kW; 51 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 7.6 kg·m (75 N·m; 55 ft·lbf) at 3,600 rpm.^[3]

The chassis included rack and pinion steering, independent suspension with struts in front and 4-links and coil springs in back. Brakes were discs up front and drums in the rear. It has a clamshell hatch in back, meaning the glass section swings up and the bottom portion opens down to create a tailgate. The compact Pao requires just 4.4 m (14.4 ft) to turn and delivers up to 51 mpg (5.5 L/100 km) in the city and 79 mpg (3.4 L/100 km) at a steady 60 km/h (37 mph).^{[citation needed]} The tires were of 155/SR12 format.

The designs of the Pike cars (excepting the Figaro) are usually credited to Naoki Sakai, who also worked for Olympus, where he brought back "the brushed aluminium look". Sakai also helped design Toyota's later WiLL cars, which echo the Pike series.^[2]

Specifications

Vehicle type number: Nissan E-PK10

Models:

• Pao w/5-speed manual transmission (PK10GF) or with 3-speed automatic (PK10GA)
• Pao canvas top w/ 5-speed manual transmission (PK10GFW) or with 3-speed automatic (PK10GAW)

Dimensions and weight

• Length: 3,740 mm (147.2 in)
• Width: 1,570 mm (61.8 in)
• Height: 1,475 mm (58.1 in) - 1,480 mm (58.3 in)
• Wheelbase: 2,300 mm (90.6 in)
• Front/rear tread: 1,365 mm (53.7 in)1,355 mm (53.3 in)
• Ground clearance: 165 mm (6.5 in)
• Min. turning circle: 4.40 m (14.5 ft)
• Seating capacity: 5 people
• Vehicle weight: 720 kg (1,587.3 lb) - 760 kg (1,675.5 lb)
• Gross vehicle weight (kg): 995 kg (2,193.6 lb) - 1,035 kg (2,281.8 lb)

Fuel consumption

• City: 5-speed 5.4 L/100 km (44 mpg_-US); automatic 6.9 L/100 km (34 mpg_-US)
• At steady 60 km/h (38 mph): 5-speed 3.4 L/100 km (69 mpg_-US); automatic 4.3 L/100 km (55 mpg_-US)

Engine

• Type: MA10S
• Water-cooled inline-4 cylinder
• Cylinder bore and stroke: 68.0 x 68.0 mm
• Total cubic displacement: 987 cc
• Compression ratio: 9.5:1
• Output (net): 52 PS (38 kW; 51 hp) at 6000 rpm
• Largest torque (net): 75 N·m (55 lb·ft) at 3600 rpm
• 1-bbl carburettor
• Fuel and tank capacity: unleaded regular, 40 L (2,441 cu in)

Body colors

• Aqua Gray (#FJ-0)
• Olive Gray (#DJ-0)
• Ivory (#EJ-I)
• Terracotta (#AJ-0)

Interior colors

• Ivory (#EJ-I)
• Black (#EJ-I)

Standard equipment

• Power steering and height adjustable driver's seat
• Electromagnetic glass hatch release
• Height-adjustable driver's seat
• Intermittent wiper
• Tensionless ELR seat belts (front seats),
• Radio (AM/FM, tape deck, electronic tuner)
• 2 rear loudspeakers

Notes

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

References

1. ^ http://www.aichikikai.co.jp/en/corporate/history/index.html
2. ^ ^{a b c} Phil, Patton (2011-03-18). "Nissan’s Cartoon Cars, Once So Hip". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/automobiles/20PIKE.html. 
3. ^ "日産 パオ（1989年01月～1989年12月）1.0 キャンバストップ [Nissan Pao (1989.01-1989.12): 1.0 Canvas Top]" (in Japanese). Car Sensor Lab Catalog. Recruit Co. http://catalog.carsensorlab.net/nissan/pao/f001/m001/g003/. 

External links

• Pao Catalog
• The Nissan Pao - Articles and Information
• Nissan Pao Forum