A number of Nissan Bluebird owners return to the plant that built their cars 30 years ago to celebrate the milestone.

• Bluebird Car Club bring their cars back to Nissan’s UK plant
• Dozens of UK car enthusiasts witness Nissan innovation in action
• Visit marks Nissan’s 30^th anniversary in the UK

Thirty years after the first Bluebird rolled off the production line, Nissan fans brought their beloved cars back to the factory to see where it all began.

The 30 enthusiasts, members of the UK’s Bluebird Car Club, enjoyed a VIP visit to Nissan Sunderland Plant, meeting the employees who built their cars and viewing Nissan’s modern manufacturing operations first-hand.

Part of this year’s celebrations marking Nissan’s 30^th anniversary in the UK, the club invited members from across the country to go ‘Back to the Future’ and see how car production has changed since their Bluebirds were made.

Bluebirds of all shapes and colours arrived from as far as Cardiff, 310 miles away, to take part in a special tour of Nissan’s record-breaking manufacturing facilities, joined by long-serving staff who shared stories from the vehicle’s years in production in Sunderland.

Matt Welch, who drove his 1988 Bluebird 1.8 GS hatchback from Newark, Nottinghamshire, said:

“When I was a kid, everybody’s dad had a Bluebird. I’ve always loved these cars because of their retro shape, and growing up, my dream was to own one. A year ago, when I saw this perfectly preserved model on eBay, I went cold. Then I knew, this was the car I’d always wanted. I love it, it’s delicious; I get such a kick out of owning it. We have two other Nissans, however this is our favourite car which we take to shows and special events.”

He continued:

“Coming to the plant where my favourite car was built was a fantastic opportunity. I’ve been around many factory tours, but Nissan was a special one, as I got to come here in a car that I love, a car that’s so over engineered that even after 28 years of being on the road, it’s still as exciting to drive as it was when it was new.”

Ian Marshall, who travelled from Cardiff in his 1989 Bluebird 2.0 Executive, said:

“I've owned 11 Nissans over the last 13 years, six of which were Bluebirds. I’ve owned two GS, a ZX Turbo, a Turbo Executive, a GSXI, as well as an example of the 2.0 Executive version which I managed to find eight years ago.

“I’ve had this Bluebird T72 model for eight years; it's a fantastic car and in a world where most cars have a round shape to them, a vehicle like this really stands out. Aside from its looks, the Bluebird is also incredibly reliable, very well specified. Nissan really went to town on the quality of these cars and really proved how well their cars are built. Everything's to a really high standard and still works in this vehicle; the electric windows, sunroof, everything still works. I’ve also seen models that haven’t been looked after at all and despite that, they just keep running and running.”

Launched in 1986, the Nissan Bluebird 2.0 SGX was the first model to roll off the line at the Sunderland Plant. In 1990, almost 200,000 cars later, Bluebird production was ceased.

Kevin Fitzpatrick, Nissan’s Vice President for Manufacturing in the UK, said:  “There are some real classics on the road today which we have built in Sunderland and which our customers have taken to their hearts.

“Bluebird is a great example of this. It was the car that started our journey here in Sunderland and it’s always a pleasure to meet customers who share our passion for Nissan vehicles.

“Visits like this are a great reminder of how far technology has moved on in the 30 years we have been making cars in the UK. We used to marvel at things such as electric windows and central locking in these cars, and now we’re gearing up for the launch of a Nissan Qashqai equipped with piloted drive technology.”

The Sunderland Plant has grown to be the largest UK car plant of all time, supporting nearly 40,000 UK jobs and manufacturing one in three of all cars made in Britain.

This year, the Nissan Qashqai overtook the Micra as Nissan’s highest-volume car built in Europe, reaching 2.37m units.

In March, the plant also announced that the refreshed Nissan Qashqai crossover, available from 2017, will be the first vehicle in Europe to feature piloted drive technology.

EURO NCAP - The All-New Infiniti Q30 hatchback also achieves the full five star Euro Ncap award.

• New Infiniti Q30 achieves maximum five-stars safety rating
• Top scores in all four testing areas

Rolle – The all-new Infiniti Q30 has received the maximum five-star rating by independent vehicle safety organization, Euro NCAP.

The Euro NCAP scoring system considers various aspects of vehicle safety, such as occupant protection, child protection, pedestrian protection and safety assist which is the availability and effectiveness of safety systems and driver aids.

As well as achieving the maximum five stars, the Infiniti Q30 gained top scores in each of these four testing categories.

Roland Krueger, President, Infiniti Motor Company, commented: “The Q30 offers a comprehensive technology package that enhances the car’s driving experience while providing maximum safety to all occupants. The five-star rating from Euro NCAP is testament to Infiniti’s advanced safety approach.”

Occupant protection scored highly in the rigorous test program with an 84 per cent rating for adult safety. As well as a driver knee airbag, the Q30 has driver-, passenger-, front hip-thorax side and front-to-rear curtain airbags.

Designed and engineered to offer the best possible levels of protection for children, an automated system in the front passenger seat will turn off the front passenger airbag when someone fits a rearward facing child seat.

For Pedestrian Protection, the Q30 scored 91 per cent, a score which is determined from tests to the most important vehicle front-end structures, such as the bonnet and windshield, the bonnet leading edge and the bumper. The Q30 is equipped with a sensor that detects a pedestrian’s legs contact with the bumper and causes the hood to pop up to give more clearance between the hood surface and the hard parts of the engine to protect pedestrians.

An 81 per cent score in the Safety Assist category was due to the latest safety technologies fitted to the Q30 as part of Infiniti’s acclaimed Safety Shield system. They include Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Speed Limit Alert.

WORLDWIDE SALES - INFINITI - Further growth for this young brand will only get bigger with new products.

• Record-breaking streak continues to achieve 14 best individual months
• Year-to-date sales in China exceeded full-year sales in 2014

Infiniti continued its successful sales performance with an exceptional month of October when the company sold more than 18,400 vehicles globally, an increase of more than 3,000 vehicles or 20% over October 2014. This marked the 14^th consecutive month of best individual months on record.

The global sales result is supported by strong sales performances in key regions and markets. The 2015 October sales marked the best October sales record for Infiniti globally as well as an all-time record month for Canada and the best October sales in history for many regions and markets including the Americas, Mexico, Western Europe and China.

Year to date, the company sold almost 173,000 vehicles, up around 24,300 vehicles or 16% from the same period in 2014. The sales in mainland China and Taiwan in the first 10 months of 2015 have already exceeded the full-year sales in 2014. The Americas have reached highest January to October sales since 2005.

“Infiniti’s strong sales momentum across all regions is driven by the strength of our product portfolio, our brand and our dealer network,” said Roland Krueger, President of Infiniti Motor Company Limited. “With the introduction of the new Q30 Active Compact coming up shortly, we are confident that we can further expand our market presence.”

In the Americas (U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Latin America), Infiniti sold more than 12,600 vehicles in October, an increase of 2,300 vehicles or 23% from a year ago. Year to date, Infiniti Americas sold about 118,400 vehicles, a 13% increase year on year.

Specifically for the U.S., Infiniti’s largest single market, the brand sold more than 11,100 vehicles in the past month, making it the 2^nd best October ever in its history. From January to October, Infiniti grew 14% year on year, and sold more than 106,700 vehicles, best result in the U.S. for the same period since the year 2005.

In China, Infiniti continues to outperform a sluggish overall automotive market. In October, the brand sold more than 3,700 vehicles, up 29% from last year. In the first 10 months of the year, Infiniti recorded sales of 32,200 vehicles, an increase of 36%.

In EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), Infiniti sold about 1,700 vehicles in October 2015, an increase of 3% compared to the same period of 2014. Year to date, the sales reached around 18,200 vehicles, an increase of 1,400 vehicles or 8%.

INFINITI Q30 Premium Active Compact set for Frankfurt IAA 2015 World Premiere.

• Daring, expressive design meets advanced ride and handling performance
• Category-breaking Q30 faithful to 2013 concept car
• World premiere for global media September 15^th at Frankfurt Motor Show

The first ever Infiniti Q30 Premium Active Compact is ready for its world premiere at the International Frankfurt Motor Show in September this year.

Featuring Infiniti’s iconic design language, the all-new Q30 represents a category-breaking vehicle concept developed for customers seeking urban individuality. 

Its dynamic drive characteristics provide for Infiniti-typical confident and responsive performance as well as excellent ride and handling. Crafted trims and expressive interiors extend the striking design approach from the exterior into the passenger cabin.

The public premiere of the Q30 Active Compact comes exactly two years after its precursor, the Q30 Concept, was introduced at the 2013 Frankfurt show. The unmistakable approach of that winning concept has been fully maintained as Infiniti’s all-new Q30 compact vehicle is introduced to the market.

“Design is a key pillar of the Infiniti brand – and the new Q30 Active Compact perfectly embodies this approach,” said Infiniti President Roland Krueger. “The Q30 Active Compact delivers the distinctive design, the driving dynamics and the individuality that our customers expect of an Infiniti vehicle. With our first ever entry in the compact car segment, we continue the product offensive and provide additional options for our discerning customers.”

The Q30 Active Compact underwent final testing and development in Europe. It will be built in Sunderland in the UK which then becomes the fourth country on three continents to build Infiniti vehicles.

Press days for the international motor show in Frankfurt this year are on September 15 and 16, public days are held September 17-27.