Nissan President JHG50

Nissan's FAQ dates the JG50 family from the October 1990 full model change to August 2002, when production ended, and Nissan's 1990 company history also lists the President JG50 in October 1990. Exact announcement, sale-start and production-start days were not found. JAF Mate's retrospective heads the generation 1990 to 2003 because remaining stock was cleared before the fourth generation, so 2003 is a stock-sale date, not a build date.

JAF Mate places the President JS two years after the 1990 launch, so about 1992, and says the Sovereign grade returned with the 1994 minor change. Nissan's company history lists a world-first rear-seat SRS airbag under April 1993, and Autech lists the Royal Limousine for 1993.

Nissan's August 2001 catalogue uses four codes. On the long body, GF-JHG50 is the plain Sovereign, and GF-JG50 covers both the Sovereign in the four-wheel multilink suspension specification and the Type D. The shorter President JS is GF-PHG50 (Type G) and GF-PG50 (Type L). In that catalogue PG50 is a JS code, not the Royal Limousine.

The August 2001 catalogue identifies the grades but does not explain what the individual code letters mean. Two sources disagree with the table: JAF Mate names JG50 and PG50 for the 1990 debut, and Nissan's JS running-gear page prints the long-body codes under the Type G and Type L headings. Read the plate and the registration, and treat codes quoted for other years as unconfirmed.

The August 2001 catalogue gives every grade the VH45DE: a DOHC V8 of 4.494 litres (nominally 4.5) with 93.0 × 82.7 mm bore and stroke and a 10.2 compression ratio. Its net rating is 199 kW (270 PS) at 5,600 rpm and 394 N·m (40.2 kgf·m) at 4,000 rpm. Nissan's heritage record for a 1990 JHG50 prints 198 kW for the same 270 PS; neither source explains the difference. PS is metric horsepower, so 270 PS is not 270 SAE horsepower.

Drive is rear-wheel through the electronically controlled four-speed E-AT: 2.784, 1.544, 1.000 and 0.694, reverse 2.275, final drive 3.357. The tank holds 85 litres. Nissan specifies unleaded premium and allows regular unleaded only when premium is unavailable, with effects such as reduced output. Laboratory 10–15 mode figures are 6.4 km/L for the JHG50 and 7.0 km/L for the JG50; optioned JHG50 cars of 2,010 kg or more, 6.1 km/L.

Nissan's long-body table lists independent multilink suspension front and rear, ventilated front discs, rear discs and 215/65R15 96S tyres, with a 6.0 m minimum turning radius. The JS running-gear page gives 5.8 m for the Type G and 5.7 m for the Type L. These are radii, not turning-circle diameters.

Nissan's mechanism page describes a preview-controlled hydraulic active suspension that senses road irregularities and adjusts hydraulic pressure automatically. It is hydraulic, not air. The equipment table lists that system and the four-wheel multilink suspension as separate rows, and the lineup separates the plain Sovereign from the multilink-specification Sovereign and the Type D. Confirm which system an individual car has.

Nissan's heritage record lists a 1990 JHG50 at 1,960 kg. The August 2001 long-body specifications for the JHG50 and JG50 are: 5,225 mm long, 1,830 mm wide, 3,030 mm wheelbase, 1,425 mm tall for the JHG50 and 1,435 mm for the JG50, and 2,000 kg and 1,940 kg before options. Interior dimensions are 2,080 × 1,520 × 1,155 mm; the height is not a headroom figure.

President JS, PHG50 and PG50: 5,075 mm long, 1,830 mm wide, 2,880 mm wheelbase (150 mm shorter than the long body, calculated from Nissan's tables), 1,425 mm and 1,435 mm tall, 1,960 kg and 1,900 kg, interior 1,930 × 1,520 × 1,155 mm. An electric panel sunroof lowers the published interior height to 1,120 mm. All catalogue sedans seat five. V-TCS traction control and the twin multi-AV system each add 20 kg, and a single multi-AV system adds 10 kg.

Nissan's interior caption for the photographed Sovereign says the leather seats and the twin multi-AV system are factory options, so the Sovereign name does not mean leather.

Cars with the rear-left SRS airbag carry it in the back of the front passenger seat. Nissan's note says this shortens the seat's slide, makes the recline fixed and removes the recline switch from the rear centre armrest. Identify the airbag package before treating a fixed passenger seat as a fault. Nissan's company history lists the G50 President under April 1993 with the world-first rear-seat SRS airbag system, but the sources used here do not say which chassis numbers have it.

Autech's library lists the President Royal Limousine for 1993. JAF Mate describes a 500 mm stretch to 5,725 mm in two grades, with or without a centre partition. The cited Autech and JAF Mate accounts give neither its chassis code nor a production total. Check the individual car's conversion records. Canada assesses limousines and other staged vehicles from the date the final-stage manufacturer completed them, so the donor sedan's build month may not apply.

Nissan's electric-vehicle history lists a President EV for 1991 and says a four-door convertible was loaned for sumo victory parades and as a marathon lead car. It was a special-purpose vehicle, not an engine choice for ordinary buyers.

JAF Mate describes the long third-generation President as a lengthened-wheelbase version of the North American Infiniti Q45, while the JS retained the Q45's wheelbase. That comparison concerns origin and wheelbase. Use Japanese-market President catalogue figures when checking specifications; Q45 export ratings describe the North American car.

Nissan tells owners to ask a dealer for part numbers, prices and delivery with the inspection certificate, grade and mileage to hand. No source used here shows that Q45 parts fit a President, so quote parts against the individual car.

For the US, the 25-year rule runs from each car's own date of manufacture (49 CFR 591.5(i)), so the model year and the generation's launch date do not decide it. Nissan records production ending in August 2002, so a car built that month reaches 25 in August 2027. EPA's separate exemption for vehicles at least 21 production years old, where EPA calculates age as the import calendar year minus the manufacture calendar year, requires the original unmodified configuration or an equivalent or newer EPA-certified replacement engine and emission-control system. State rules vary, so check yours. Canada counts 15 years from the month and year of manufacture, and Transport Canada says admissibility does not guarantee provincial registration.

Nissan's online recall search needs the Japanese chassis number and covers recalls issued from 30 March 2001 and service campaigns from 17 January 2003. Earlier campaigns for this generation do not appear there.