Nissan introduced the Figaro at the
1989 Tokyo Motor Show, using "Back to the Future" as its marketing tagline. Based on the first-generation
Nissan Micra, the Figaro was manufactured at
Aichi Machine Industry, a special projects group that Nissan would later call "Pike Factory", which also produced three other niche vehicles: the
Be-1,
Pao, and
S-Cargo. Aichi had originally built independent
kei cars like the
Cony 360 until Nissan assumed operations in 1966, and was also the original manufacturing location for the first generation
Nissan Sunny. Based on the
Nissan March (Micra) platform, the Figaro uses a 1.0-liter (987 cc)
turbocharged engine generating and of
torque through a three-speed
automatic transmission, front
MacPherson struts, rear four-link coil spring
suspension,
rack and pinion steering, and front ventilated
disc and rear
drum brakes. The Figaro can reach a top speed of . It also featured front fenders made from
thermoplastic resin to reduce weight. At first, 8,000 Figaros were manufactured, and then an additional 12,000 to meet demand. Prospective purchasers entered a lottery to acquire a Figaro. Limited edition cars came with passenger side baskets and
cup holders. ==References==