Sold between the years of 1989 and 1998, the Nissan 240SX was a car produced and marketed by
Nissan for the North American market. The 240SX was a replacement for the 200SX and was powered by a 2.4-liter inline four engine and had two very distinct generations, which were the S13 and the S14. Both generations of the 240SX were based on the Nissan S platform.
The first generation of the 240SX, the S13 began in 1989 and continued until 1994. This first generation had two variants, which were the Zenki and the Chuki. The Zenki was available in two body styles that were named the fastback and the coupe. This variant was powered by a 2.4 liter single over head cam KA24E engine with three valves per cylinder, and though it was closely related to the Japanese Silvia it different in that it did not have a turbocharged engine. Both the fastback and the coupe were equipped with four wheel disc brakes and either a four speed automatic or five speed manual transmission as an option.
The Chuki was produced from 1991 until 1994 and had an upgraded engine and some minor cosmetic changes to the body of the vehicle. The new engine was a dual overhead cam KA24DE with four valves per cylinder. This variant also offered more horsepower than the first and had an optional sports package. Additionally, in 1992 Nissan added a convertible body type to the vehicle lineup that was only sold in the United States. The S13 was generally known to its sharp handling capabilities but was also known for being underpowered.
The S14 was produced from 1995 until 1998 and was also divided into two distinct variants, which were the Zenki and the Kouki. The 240SX received a facelift in 1994 and was sold as an early 1995 model. Nissan did away with the hatchback and convertible body types leaving only the coupe version of the 240SX. The only real additions to the vehicle from the previous generation were dual air bags and the removal of the pop up headlights, but mechanically speaking the S14 was not all that different from the S13.
The Zenki model was produced from 1995 to 1996 and sported 15 inch wheels, an upgraded suspension, and an absence of a rear sway bar. The SE variant was equipped with 16-inch wheels, a more rigid suspension, and it had a rear sway bar.
The Kouki variant was sold from 1997 until 1998 and featured an updated body such as projector headlights, an updated front bumper, hood, fender, as well as updated taillights. Nissan also added a luxury trim package known as the LE in 1997 that included leather seats, keyless entry, an alarm, as well as a CD player. 1998 marked the end of the 240SX as well as the end of S-chassis variations of Nissan vehicles in the United States.
