adminTHE Nissan’s SR20 det has proven itself overtime and no longer needs any introduction. It is the engine that has created its own legacy through cars like the Nissan Silvia which is well known for its presence on the Japanese drift scene. Many other models have featured this same engine and these include the Nissan Liberty which is quite popular down here, the X-trail, the Nissan Bluebird just to mention a few. There is a small car that is not so popular and it’s just one of those cars you would just give a passing glance without turning your head until you get acquainted. It is the Nissan Pulsar GTIR. It has a big heart for its size — the SR20DET and that is just about what makes it special.
To understand the SR20 DET better, we would have to break it down a bit. The SR is the engine code while the 20 represents engine displacement which is 1998cc rounded off to 2000cc. The D stands for dual overhead camshafts while the E is for electronic fuel injection. Lastly, the T stands for the garret T25 turbo charger that is found in most of these SR20 DETs. This turbo works all the magic for these engines and with different tuning across the different models the SR20DET delivers between 200 to 250hp on stock internals. A lot of enthusiasts get more power out of these engines through some modifications. On the Japanese scene you can be lucky to get a Pulsar modified to perfection and boosted beyond imagination, only price will be your main hindrance.
When you hear the name Pulsar, your mind would probably race to give a picture of the old Datsun Pulsar, well, it’s the same family line and the Pulsar GTIR model in question is the 90s version. Lets just say it’s the big brother. The Nissan Pulser GTIR is a hot hatch and in proper sports fashion its got 3 doors and can accommodate 5 passengers. The Pulsar is the same car as the Nissan Sunny in the UK or the Sentra from South Africa. Its Japanese culture to give different names to cars in different markets so this same car has different name badges across the world. We get to have the JDM version since Zimbabwe has become a young Japan with millions of cars being imported from Japan.
This little car has the Attesa all-wheel drive system which has come to define the skyline GTR suspension. The SR20 DET made it so quick it was almost in the skyline GTR league. Some people have even nick named it baby Godzila for a few reasons. For those that may not know, In Japan the godzila (monster) is the Nissan Skyline GTR and this is the car that was built to be a monster of epic proportions on the track. Even today the Godzilla is a piece of Japanese history and memorabilia that will not be done away with easily. It came to prominence through the 2001 movie the fast and the furious and still remains an icon even for the late Brian O’connor (Paul Walker).
The Pulsar GTIR is the same as the Nissan Sentra that is popular down here having been produced in South Africa. In southern Africa the hatch back was never popular and the SR20 was never popular in the Sentras. Do not let the looks fool you though it might look just like a Sentra but it is completely different from the Sentra inside. The suspension is upgraded from the standard Pulsar to incorporate the four-wheel drive Attesa system. The engines are different as well, the Pulsar comes with the SR20 DET. It was made to give those rally Subarus a hard time and it did although it was short-lived. Apart from perhaps a GTR-inspired grill and a body kit, the car looks just like a Sentra. Its not the best looking and does not even have the looks that are out of this world, like I mentioned earlier it’s the heart that has a beauty of its own kind.
The Pulsar drive-train as I mentioned earlier consists of the all-wheel drive Attesa set-up driven by a double syncro close ratio 5-speed manual transmission with racing clutch that was reasonably strong as it was meant for abuse on the race track. For the lazy drivers there was never an automatic transmission on offer as it was meant to be a race car or rally car — A car for real driver J.
For a first timer, this is a less obvious choice for a car but for an enthusiast it is the ultimate race car. Weighing only 1,2 tonnes and an acceleration time of about 6 seconds to 100km/hr, it’s to die for! Earlier tests showed this little monster could run a quarter mile within the 13sec bracket. This car does not come very cheap as only about 15 000 of them were made and slowly they become classics as the time goes by. Till Next time, Happy motoring!
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Online Reporter