Infiniti J
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Infiniti J30 | |
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| Manufacturer: | Nissan |
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| Production: | 1993-1997 |
| Assembly: | Tochigi, Tochigi, Japan |
| Predecessor: | Infiniti M30 |
| Successor: | Infiniti I30 |
| Class: | Mid-size luxury car |
| Body style: | 4-door sedan |
| Engine: | 3.0 L VG30DE V6 |
| Transmission: | 4-Speed Automatic Overdrive |
| Wheelbase: | 108.7 in. |
| Length: | 191.4 in. |
| Width: | 69.7 in. |
| Height: | 54.7 in. |
| Fuel capacity: | 19 gal. |
| Similar: | BMW 5 Series Lexus GS Mercedes-Benz 500E |
The Infiniti J30 was a rear wheel drive luxury car. The J30 went into production on April 7, 1992 as a 1993 model to replace the M30 (which was a coupe), and was launched in the United States at the same time as its competitor, the Lexus GS. The car was designed to slot between the smaller G20 and the larger Q45, as Infiniti's first mid-size sedan. Also, it was fairly small but featured rounded styling uncharacteristic of the crowded near-luxury market. Unlike earlier Infinitis, the J30 received effective advertisement with jazz music and artistic camera shots. Power came from a 3.0 L VG30DE V6 (shared with the 300ZX) which produced 210 hp and 192 ft·lbf of torque. While it shares the Y32 Chassis with the Nissan Cedric/Gloria, it was essentially a rebadged version of the Japan-market Nissan Leopard J.Ferie where it was offered with both the VG30DE and VH41DE V8; Limited turbo&TT*.
All J30s were built in Tochigi, Tochigi, Japan. Production of the J30 ended on June 18, 1997, replaced by the Infiniti I30 (introduced in 1996).
One of the numerous reasons the J30 failed was that its most distinguishing feature was a lack of interior room. It had the distinction of being a mid-size car with the space of a subcompact (less than a Sentra) due to its sloping roofline and shrunken trunk.
The J30 was launched with a memorable ad campaign, featuring a middle-aged yuppie wearing all black. The host used phrases like "This is the Infinity J30 -- and this is the clock in the J" with an elitist tone that was widely ridiculed. Saturday Night Live parodied the ads in their "Infinity Toilet" spoofs.
The images shown to the right depict the touring model, the J30t. Among many advanced features, this model featured a rear spoiler and HICAS (four wheel steering).
Some rumors reported that Infiniti was going to bring back the J series to compete with the successful Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class 4-door coupe. It is unknown if any of these rumors are true, but, with lackluster sales of the M45 the J could fit back into the lineup. It would be a 2009 model.
[edit] External links
| Infiniti — a marque of Nissan Motors — road car timeline, 1990s-present - | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Compact | G20 | G20 | G35 | G35 | |||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size | I30 | I30 / I35 | M35 | ||||||||||||||||||
| M30 | J30 | M45 | M45 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size | Q45 | Q45 | Q45 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crossover | FX35 / FX45 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| SUV | QX4 | QX56 | |||||||||||||||||||
