The Nissan Saurus was a concept car shown at the 1987 Tokyo Motor Show. It was a roadster with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, bulging fenders and a design reminiscent of the Lotus Seven. Nissan presented it as part of a pair with the Jura minivan concept, offered as the practical complement to the roadster.
Nissan Saurus at a glance
| Shown | 1987 Tokyo Motor Show |
|---|---|
| Type | roadster concept |
| Engine | 2.0-litre turbocharged |
| Look | bulging fenders, Lotus Seven style |
| Companion concept | Nissan Jura minivan |
| Race version | Saurus Jr., from 1989 |
| Race series | Saurus Cup, from 1989 |
| Engine in production | the March Super Turbo of 1989 |
based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Nissan Saurus.
History of the Nissan Saurus
A concept pair
Nissan marketed the Saurus alongside the Jura minivan concept, presented as a practical complement to the roadster. Presenting a pair that way was radical for Japan, where owning two cars was unrealistic for most buyers, so the Saurus was safely assumed never to be meant for production.
The Saurus Jr.
The concept reached the road in modified form through Nismo, Nissan’s motorsport division. The Saurus Cup race series debuted in 1989 using the Nissan Saurus Jr., a racing version with single-seater sheet-metal tubs and glass-fibre bodies replicating the Saurus design. The car was also used by the Nissan Racing School, and its successor is still used for advanced racing classes; it was also the basis of the Mach 5 of the 1997 version of Speed Racer X.
The engine
The twin-charged engine of the Saurus reached production in 1989 in the March and Micra Super Turbo. The later Nissan Urge concept has been compared with the Saurus.
Design and features
- Roadster concept: an open two-seater in the spirit of the Lotus Seven.
- Turbo engine: a 2.0-litre unit that later powered the March Super Turbo.
- Saurus Jr.: the Nismo race car built from 1989.
- Saurus Cup: a one-make series for the Junior.
Nissan Saurus versions
- Saurus concept (1987): the show car.
- Nissan Jura: the minivan concept shown as its pair.
- Saurus Jr. (1989–): the Nismo racing version.
The Saurus engine later appeared in the March and Micra Super Turbo, and its place as a small sports concept was taken by later cars such as the MID4. More cars are in the Nissan collection.
Sources
- Nissan Saurus, English Wikipedia: concept, Jura pair, Saurus Jr. and Cup, engine
