Manufacturer Nissan Motors Layout FF layout | Body style 2-Door Notchback | |
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Production 1987-1988 (10,000 Units) Assembly Oppama Plant, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan Designer Yoshiro Kobata
Naoki Sakai | ||
The Nissan Be-1 is a retro-styled three-door hatchback manufactured by Nissan for model years 1987-1988, and originally marketed solely in Japan at their Nissan Cherry Stores.
Designed to be a fashionable city car, the Be-1 was originally marketed without Nissan branding, by reservation only and solely in Japan.
Because of its origins at Pike Factory, Nissan's special project group, the Be-1 — along with the Nissan Figaro, Pao and S-Cargo — are known as Nissan's "Pike cars."
In 2011, noted design critic Phil Patton, writing for the New York Times, called the Pike cars "the height of postmodernism" and "unabashedly retro, promiscuously combining elements of the Citroën 2CV, Renault 4, Mini [and] Fiat 500."
Specifications
The engine was the 1.0L (987 cc) MA10S, and a 3-speed automatic transmission or 5-speed manual transmission. This engine produced 52 PS (51 hp/38 kW) at 6000 rpm and 76 N·m (56 ft·lbf) at 3600 rpm.
The chassis included rack and pinion steering, independent suspension with struts in front, as well as 4-links and coil springs in back. Disc brakes were used in the front and Drum Brakes were used in the rear.