Nissan Silvia

Nissan Silvia S14 at a glance

The S14 continued the Silvia formula of a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive coupé with a four-cylinder engine, but it grew in size: at more than 1,700 mm wide, it moved out of Japan's compact tax class. Its rounder styling made it look larger than the S13, while a longer wheelbase and wider track improved handling. The S14 was offered only as a coupé, as the S13's fastback and convertible versions were not continued outside Japan. Nissan's story is told in the history of Nissan, and its models are in the Nissan catalogue.

Zenki and Kouki

Enthusiasts divide the S14 into two phases. The early cars of 1993–1996 are known as "zenki", and the facelifted cars from 1996 as "kouki", also called the S14A. The facelift brought projector headlights and tinted tail lights to all models, together with revised front and rear bumpers and trim, giving the car a sharper, more aggressive look. The old 1cars text adds that the bonnet and front wings were also reshaped. Technically, the K's turbo engine received a turbocharger with a more efficient ball-bearing centre section.

S14 production timeline

The S15 that followed raised the SR20DET's output to 250 PS and 275 Nm, but the S14 remained the Silvia that introduced N-VCT and the T28 turbo to the turbo models.

Trims

The S14 kept the S13's trim names, though the Club Selection package was dropped:

• Q's: naturally aspirated SR20DE engine.
• K's: turbocharged SR20DET engine.
• Aero versions: Q's and K's with a large rear wing and mild body kit.
• Autech K's: a tuned version with 182 kW (247 PS).
• Nismo 270R: a limited edition of 50 cars developed by Nismo in 1994.

SR20DE and SR20DET engines

The SR20 is an all-aluminium twin-cam engine with a square 86 × 86 mm bore and stroke. In the S14 K's, the SR20DET gained N-VCT variable timing on the intake camshaft and a larger T28 turbocharger. According to the old 1cars text, the S14 was offered with a five-speed manual gearbox, and the turbo engine's direct ignition and electronic management give strong, flexible pulling power.

Strut and multi-link suspension

The S14 uses MacPherson struts at the front and an independent multi-link rear suspension, a set-up that gives balanced handling. The old 1cars text notes that the suspension is mounted to the body through special bushes that filter out vibrations, so the car is stiff but reasonably comfortable on the road. The longer wheelbase and wider track compared with the S13 improved stability.

Driver-focused cabin

The cabin is built around the driver. The old 1cars text describes a dashboard that flows into thick door trims, a large centre console dividing the cabin and round dials for the speedometer, rev counter, fuel and temperature under a deep cowl. Leather was used for the seats, steering wheel and gear knob on some versions. The rear seats are very cramped and suitable only for children or occasional use.

Motorsport and drifting

An S14 won the GT300 class of the All-Japan GT Championship in 1997. The S13, S14 and S15 Silvias are popular platforms for drifting and time attack thanks to their rear-wheel drive and tunable SR20DET engines. In the United States, the drifter Odi Bakchis has competed in Formula Drift with an S14 and finished third in the 2019 championship. A Silvia S14 also appeared in the first The Fast and the Furious film, as the old 1cars text notes.

The S14 outside Japan

In Europe the S14 was sold as the Nissan 200SX with the SR20DET turbo engine. In North America it became the second-generation Nissan 240SX, sold from 1995 to 1998 with the non-turbo 2.4-litre KA24DE engine.

Rivals: how the S14 compares

The Silvia S14 competed with Japanese sports coupés of the 1990s such as the Mazda RX-7, the Toyota Supra and the Mitsubishi Eclipse. Its strengths are rear-wheel drive, a strong and tunable turbo engine and balanced handling. Its weaknesses are a cramped rear seat and plain interior materials.