Nissan AD

The Nissan AD is a subcompact van and wagon built by Nissan since 1982. The AD is sold under a different name when manufactured as a passenger car, called the Nissan Wingroad (日産・ウィングロード).

VB11 series
In October 1982, the AD Van supplemented (and also gradually replaced) the commercial delivery vans based on Nissan's other vehicles. In 1983, the Nissan Cedric van was discontinued, as was the Nissan Gloria van. It originally came with four front doors and a liftback hatch in back. In July 1983, a two-door version was introduced, meaning that the earlier B310 Sunny Van could finally be retired. The AD range was based on the B11 series Nissan Sunny wagon but has a more square-rigged and utilitarian appearance.

This wagon was sold in Japan as the Sunny AD Van at Nissan Satio Store and as the Pulsar AD Van at Nissan Cherry Store. It was also sold as the "Nissan Datsun AD Van", to tie it together with the Nissan Datsun, which was the name used for the Nissan Pickup in the Japanese Domestic Market.

It came with three engines; the 1.3 and 1.5-litre carburetted E13S and E15S and the 1.7-litre CD17 diesel engine. The transmissions were either a four- or five-speed manual transmission, with the availability of a three-speed automatic for the bigger of the gasoline options. Power outputs for 1984 models in Japan are 75 PS, 85 PS, and 61 PS respectively.

The rear suspension was designed for commercial usage, so it used a simple leaf spring setup and wasn't intended for ride quality. Low cost, light weight, and a flat, low loading floor were the main consideration. The AD van was designed for very basic duties, and the options list was kept small to enhance economical use and running costs. The AD van used a front wheel drive engine configuration shared with the Sunny. The AD Van was marketed as the Nissan Sunny in some European markets such as Belgium (glazed five-door), beginning with the 1984 model year. In the Netherlands this version was sold as a "Stationwagen" as well as a van, both with the 1.3-liter engine. The United Kingdom received three three-door panel van version with the 1.3-litre E13 engine and 60 hp. Payload is 1113 lb.

The AD van remained basically unchanged, except for minor cosmetic changes until the second generation was introduced in 1990 with the Y10 series. The three-door van was also available as a strict two-seater.

Nissan Australia sold the VB11 three-door panel van as part of the Nissan Pulsar range between September 1983 and December 1985, replacing the Sunny (B310) panel van that had been discontinued earlier in 1983. The Pulsar panel van was fitted with the 1.3-liter E13 engine and a four-speed manual transmission. The Pulsar van weighed 840 kg and had a payload rating of 540 kg.

Y10/N14 series
The second-generation AD Van (sold as the Y10/N14 Wagon in Europe), introduced in October 1990, replaced the Nissan Sunny B13 series wagon, but with a different rear end compared to exported standard Sunny wagons. The vehicle continued as the AD Van, and as a private use (non-commercial) it was marketed as the Nissan Sunny California wagon (N14/Y10). The engines used were the 1.5 L and 1.3 L GA15DS & GA13DS with DOHC and the 1.7 L CD17 diesel continued. The Wingroad/AD Van were also accompanied by a larger retail/commercial station wagon/delivery van called the Nissan Avenir/Expert that replaced the Nissan Bluebird U12 wagon/delivery van.

In 1996, Nissan added the Nissan Wingroad to the lineup. The Wingroad was offered with the SR20DE as well as the SR18DE and GA15DE, while the smallest 1.3 and the diesel option were not available. Trying to cash in on Japan's RV ("recreational vehicle", usually versions of existing vans and wagons combining a slight off-road vibe with sporty equipment) craze of the late 1990s. The Wingroad followed this recipe closely, being a winged and despoilered version of the AD Van, usually with more powerful engines. Four-wheel drive was optional. Unusually, the Wingroad also received a redesigned, larger rear end with a longer rear overhang. The Wingroad name originated as a trim level on the Bluebird U11-series wagon.

April 1992 saw the introduction of the AD Max with an unusual raised cargo bay, called fourgonnette after the French designation, with two French doors in back and two doors for front passengers. The wheelbase was extended by 70 mm to 2470 mm, with the height of the cargo area measured to be 1810 mm. Overall length also increased to 4270 - 4290 mm Two rear wipers were installed on each of the French doors. Suzuki also tried this approach with the Suzuki Alto Hustle. The AD Max was available with regular rectangular side windows or a more unusual triangular arrangement (pictured), as well as a panelled version of the latter.



August 1993 saw minor changes, with the 1.3 L automatic transmission upgraded to a four-speed. The Wingroad transmission selections were either the four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual.

The Wingroad JS trim level shares an appearance with the larger Nissan Avenir Blastar, and both also use a two-tone paint scheme.

Beginning in April 1994, the Y10 series AD van was also sold as the Subaru Leone and from August 1994 as the Mazda Familia Wagon/Van light commercial vehicle. The Subaru version was added as a result of the Leone platform having been replaced by the Subaru Impreza; the Impreza has a reduced size cargo area on the wagon/five-door hatchback and was not suitable for a commercial derivative. The Subaru version was continued to be available in the Y11 generation but was discontinued in 2001, as the Sambar was encroaching on Leone sales. The Mazda Familia-badged AD derivatives continued to be offered in the succeeding generations until June 2018.

April 1996 saw a driver-side airbag added as an extra-cost option. May 1997 saw minor cosmetic changes. The 1.3 and 1.5-liter GA13DE and GA15DE engines replaced the GA13DS and GA15DS versions for better emissions performance. the 2.0 L CD20 diesel engine was introduced with the ATTESA 4WD system, and ventilated front disc-brakes were introduced on all trim levels. The front windshield wipers were offered with a de-icer option.

The Y10 platform was introduced to Thailand, Taiwan and Malaysia in September 1993 as the Nissan AD Resort. A pickup truck body version was available in Thailand as AD "Wingroad" (which was different from the Japanese-market Wingroad version). The Y10 was also built in Thailand under license as the Nissan NV. This was built on the longer wheelbase of the AD Max in a bewildering array of bodystyles to suit the Thai buyers' penchant for pickup trucks, including a double-cab ute. There was also a wagon version based on the pickup, essentially going full circle from the original AD Wagon. Thai cars mostly received the GA16DS engine with 95 PS.

In Mexico, only the station wagon body of the Y10 AD was marketed between 1993 and 2001, being named Nissan Tsubame (a Japanese term which refers the woodswallow bird species, and also the name of a city in Niigata, Japan). This model was introduced in 1993 as a local companion for the then recently launched B13-series saloon range (Sunny/Sentra, designated "Nissan Tsuru" in the Mexican market) as there was no B13-based wagon, unlike the former B12 and B11 platforms. The Tsubame range featured two trim levels: GS and GST.

Y11 series
The third series AD (Y11) began in May 1999, once again available only with a station wagon body, sold in the Japanese, New Zealand (badged as Pulsar) and Caribbean markets. It is mechanically related to the Nissan Sunny B15 series but has a different exterior design. The interior design is shared with the Japanese market Nissan Sunny B15 as well. The second generation Wingroad received a facelift in October 2001, with a sleeker front end and a new interior.

The Wingroad version slotted in Nissan's product range between the Nissan Bluebird and the Primera, available with the 1.5 L QG15DE, the 1.8 L QG18DE and the 2.0 L SR20VE engines. The 1.8 L exists only as a 4WD version.

The Wingroad shares a MacPherson strut front suspension with the other Nissan C-Segment cars of the era, such as the B15 Sunny/Sentra and the N16 Almera/Pulsar. In most models, the rear suspension consisted of a beam axle with coil springs and panhard rod. The four-wheel drive versions and the ZV-S FWD variant used a multi-link rear suspension. All variants were fitted with ventilated disc brakes in the front and drum brakes in the rear; the exception being the ZV-S which was fitted with non-ventilated disc brakes in the rear.

From October 2000, the Wingroad was offered as a trim level called "G Extra" that included an optional TV screen that folded down from the ceiling for rear passengers.

In March 2001, manufacturing operations were moved from the Nissan Shatai factory in Kyoto to the facility in Shonan. The 2.0 L SR20VE engine is replaced with the 2.0 L QR20DE. Various trim level packages were introduced on the Wingroad approximately every six months, including aero packages and limited offering names, such as "Aero Sport Limited".

The commercial AD Van version continued to also be sold as the Mazda Familia Wagon and as the Subaru Leone (until March 2001). The Mazda version is unrelated to the Familia passenger car range, and kept the Familia name after the car range was replaced by the Axela (Mazda3). Engines available for the AD Van were the 2.2 L YD22 diesel, 1.3 L QG13DE, the 1.5 L QG15DE, and the 1.8 L QG18DE (only with 4WD). The 1.8-litre option was upgraded to the QG18DEN designed to run on CNG for emissions reduction on January 14, 2000. The CNG option achieved 1,000 sales by July 24, 2002, however, CNG vehicles were no longer offered by December 3, 2008. The diesel engine was discontinued in 2001 as Japan actively discouraged the use of diesel vehicles within its cities.

A driver-side airbag is now standard on both the AD Van and the Wingroad, with a passenger-side airbag optional.

The AD Van Max was no longer offered.

Gallery

 * Nissan AD/Wingroad


 * Mazda Familia Van

Y12 series
An all-new AD Van (Y12) debuted December 20, 2006, now using the Renault-Nissan B-platform. AD/Wingroad Y12 is almost the same car as the European/Japanese 2005-2013 Nissan Note E11 hatchback and Nissan Livina station wagon (Asia). Models fully share body (except for the E11 Note's shorter rear), engines, transmission, suspension, etcetera, while differing superficially in design. Parts are compatible depending on the initial market.

The Wingroad debuted November 14, 2005, with a preview at the 39th Tokyo Motor Show in October. Like the Tiida/Versa, it has a wheelbase of 2600 mm, and the new HR15DE and MR18DE engines along with the CR12DE. While the Wingroad was available with 4WD from the beginning, the AD Vans originally only came with front-wheel drive. The transmission for the AD van and the Wingroad is a four-speed automatic or the optional CVT. From 2007, there is also a new Familia Cargo, based on the Y12 shape AD Van. The Y12 was introduced in late December 2008 as the Mitsubishi Lancer Cargo (Japanese Wikipedia entry).

The Wingroad received limited edition trim level packages, called "Rider α II", "Sport Acapello", "V Selection" to name a few. When the Nissan Stagea was discontinued June 2007, the Wingroad/AD van was the only station wagon still built by Nissan, with Nissan instead introducing a number of new MPV's, such as the Nissan Lafesta, the Nissan Presage, and the Nissan Elgrand. In December 2008, the AD Van is now available with the HR16DE engine and the e4WD all wheel drive system. In the same month, the last of the preceding Y11 series were finally taken out of production; CNG and 4WD versions of the Y11 had been built in parallel for a few years after the Y12 was introduced.

Intelligent Key was added to the Wingroad September 11, 2006, and the Wingroad can be equipped with a GPS navigation package using HDD technology. The AD Van had been sold without passenger side airbag, but from May 2009 this became standard across the range. In May 2013, the 1.2-liter engine option for the AD was discontinued.

The AD Van received a facelift on November 30, 2016, and was renamed the NV150 AD to tie into the rest of Nissan's commercial vehicle lineup. The passenger-oriented Wingroad was discontinued on March 24, 2018. In May 2021, the name was reverted to Nissan AD once again. Specifications were altered somewhat, but the appearance of the car remained unchanged.