Nissan Unveils Special Bluebird EV To Honor Its UK Plant Anniversary

Nissan is celebrating 35 years of manufacturing at its Sunderland plant with a one-off electrified version of the Bluebird, the first vehicle company manufactured there. In summer 1986, the Bluebird, which was followed by the Primera and later the Qashqai, went into production.

It was the first of a long series of Nissan vehicles made in the United Kingdom, including the Micra, Almera, Note, and Juke, as well as the luxury Infiniti Q30 and QX30.

It's known as the Newbird, and it's been substantially modified to fit the Leaf's internals. The motor and transmission are replaced with a 150 hp electric engine that powers the front wheels, allowing the new Bluebird to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in under 15 seconds.

The power steering, brakes, and heating systems have all been modified to work without the need for an internal combustion motor. The 40 kWh battery from the base Leaf is also carried over. For optimal weight distribution, the modules are split between both the engine compartment and the boot, however, the suspension has been updated to accommodate for the extra weight. The battery has a range of roughly 130 miles and can be supplied at up to 6.6 kW.

Aside from the charging outlet, an illuminated front emblem, and new EV-specific instruments, the Newbird looks identical to the original. It's decked out with a 1980s-style livery influenced by modern consumer gadgets. Kinghorn Electric Vehicles, situated near Sunderland and specializing in converting vintage automobiles to electric power, completed the modification.

From its founding 35 years ago, Sunderland has manufactured more than 10.5 million automobiles and presently employs 6000 workers, 19 of whom, according to Nissan, have been there since the beginning. The facility produced 187,178 Bluebirds between 1986 and 1990, each taking more than 22 hours to complete. The first instance is currently on exhibit at a local museum.