Manufacturer Nissan Class Station wagon | Production 1996–2007 Body style 5-door station wagon | |
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Assembly Musashimurayama, Japan
Tochigi, Tochigi, Japan (2001-2007) Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive | ||
The Nissan Stagea commonly referred to as the Skyline wagon (because it shares many mechanical parts as the R33 Nissan Skyline and Nissan Laurel) is a station wagon originally produced by Nissan in 1996 as direct competition for the Subaru Legacy Touring wagon in Japan, and it was exclusive to Nissan Prince Store Japanese dealerships.
Contents
There are 3 different versions of the Stagea, WC34 Series 1 (1996 to late 1998), WC34 Series 2 (late 1998 to 2001) and the M35 Series (2001 to 2007).
Series 1
WC34 Series 1 (1996 to late 1998) This model bears many visual similarities to the HR31 Skyline, mainly on the front of the vehicle with the headlights & grill being the same shape if only slightly larger, as well as the placement of the air dams and indicator lights being in a similar position, giving the impression of lineage to the Skyline, though mechanically it is most similar to the R33 Skyline.
The Stagea was available with a 2.0L single cam, a 2.5L twin cam n/a, a 2.5L twin cam turbo or 2.6L twin cam, twin turbo engine. All engines were from the RB range, with the 2.6L (260RS model) being the same as that equipped in the Nissan R33 GTR. Engine power ranged from 114 kW (153 hp) in the 2.0l to 172 kW (231 hp) in the 2.5l turbo and 206 kW (276 hp) in the 2.6L twin turbo.
The Stagea was available in 2WD (RWD) and AWD variants, with the RWD variants using RWD Laurel front suspension (strut type) and AWD versions using RWD r34 Skyline (multiple link) front suspension. Both RWD and AWD shared its chassis platform with the C35 Laurel, which had the same wheelbase of 2720mm, and was also available in RWD and AWD. The chassis between 2WD and AWD did have some differences, the main being that the driver's side chassis rail on the AWD version was positioned closer to the lower sill. This was done to make room for the transfer case located on the end of the AWD transmission.
The AWD system, ATTESA E-TS, is identical in operation to the Nissan Skyline GTS-FOUR and GTR AWD system. As an added extra, the AWD Stageas fitted with an automatic transmission also featured a transfer case lock; this locked the transfer case in full 4wd and bypassed the ABS, g-force sensor inputs and ATTESA E-TS ecu which were all normally required for the AWD system to work.
Unlike the Skyline and Laurel which had 5 speed automatic transmissions on some automatic 2.5L non turbo versions, all automatic Stageas were 4 speed. All manual models were 5 speed although only 2 models were available manual, the turbo RS4 and the 260RS, which was exclusively manual.
Specs
Options
Series 1 paint options:
Series 2
WC34 series 2 (1998 to 2001) was basically the same as the Series 1. The headlights were changed in shape and made from high impact plastic (previous model had glass headlights) and the fog/auxiliary light moved into the grill. The indicators were changed to a clear unit, and changed shape slightly. Front aero was slightly revised and body mouldings colour matched. Interior trim choices were also changed. It has the same engine choices, but they are the uprated NEO version of the RB series and higher spec models included a tiptronic auto transmission. The power ranges from 114 kW (153 hp) in the 2l to 206 kW (276 hp) for the 2.5l turbo and 2.6L twin turbo. 2WD and 4WD versions available. A choice of transmissions is also available: 4-speed auto, 4-speed tip-tronic auto and 5-speed manual for the turbo RS FOUR S and 260RS.
M35
The M35 series (2001 to 2007) looks very different from the previous C34 models and is derived from the Skyline/G35 sedan (V35 platform). As per the Skyline the engine was changed from the RB series I6 to the VQ series V6.
Series 1
From October 2001 to August 2004 the following range of models were available:
The Autech Axis 350S was the only M35 chassis Stagea to ever be offered with a manual transmission and was produced from October 2003 to June 2004
There were a couple of sub-variants:
Series 2
In August 2004 the range was modified:
Series 2+
From late 2006 the engines changed from the DE series to the HR series and both the following can be found ex Japan; VQ25HR and VQ35HR.
End of life
Nissan ceased production of the Stagea in early June 2007, Nissan Japan stated that it would continue to sell the remaining stock of the vehicle but that production of the vehicle had ended. The model segment served by this vehicle was replaced by the Nissan Skyline Crossover.