Nissan Rasheen
Encyclopedia
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.
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 1.5 liter four, the 125 PS 1.8 liter engine was added to the lineup in January 1997, only available with the automatic transmission. 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 PS. 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.
Wartburg 353
The Wartburg 353, known in some export markets as the Wartburg Knight, is a medium-sized family car, produced by East German car manufacturer Wartburg. It was the successor of the Wartburg 311, and was itself succeeded by the Wartburg 1.3....
, but is also reminiscent of Nissan's "Pike" cars (Be-1
Nissan Be-1
The Nissan Be-1 is a retro-styled automobile from Nissan Motors. The Be-1 was the first of four such retro spinoffs of the K10 Micra — the S-Cargo, Figaro and Pao being the other three. Like the Figaro, the Be-1 was sold without the Nissan name...
, Pao
Nissan Pao
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 , the canvas top being the most collectible. The Pao was one of three fashionable spinoffs of the...
, Figaro
Nissan Figaro
The Nissan Figaro is a small retro car manufactured by Nissan. The car was originally sold only in Japan. Despite this, the Nissan Figaro has become popular with owners in the UK and Ireland, given the popularity of second-hand Japanese import cars...
, and S-Cargo
Nissan S-Cargo
The Nissan S-Cargo is a small retro commercial van manufactured by Nissan. Its name was a double entendre meaning both "Small Cargo" as well as "Escargot", the French word for snail. This was because the styling of the S-Cargo looked a lot like a snail...
). As for the Be-1 and Figaro, Rasheen production was carried out by Nissan's specialist subsidiary Takada Kogyo.
It had full time four wheel drive, Nissan's ATTESA
ATTESA
ATTESA is a four-wheel drive system used in some automobiles produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan, including some models under its luxury marque Infiniti.-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
Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester is an all-wheel drive crossover wagon manufactured since 1997 by Fuji Heavy Industries and sold under the Subaru brand...
, Honda CR-V
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is a compact suv, now called crossover, manufactured since 1995 by Honda. It was loosely derived from the Honda Civic to satisfy a public demand for a sport-utility vehicle from Honda. There are discrepancies as to what "CR-V" stands for, with Honda sources in different markets...
, and the Toyota RAV4
Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 is a compact crossover SUV from Toyota. It was the first compact crossover SUV, introduced in Japan and Europe in 1994 and beginning sales in North America in 1996...
in Japan. Originally only built with a 105 PS 1.5 liter four, the 125 PS 1.8 liter engine was added to the lineup in January 1997, only available with the automatic transmission. 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 PS. By August of 2000 production had come to a halt, amidst the restructuring following Carlos Ghosn
Carlos Ghosn
Carlos Ghosn, KBE , born 9 March 1954, is a Brazilian-Lebanese-French businessman who is currently the Chairman and CEO of Yokohama, Japan-based Nissan and holds the same positions at Paris-based Renault, which together produce more than one in 10 cars worldwide...
'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.