Nissan Cefiro

A31
Overview
Production	1988–1994 (sedan)
Assembly	Musashimurayama, Japan (Nissan automobile assembly plant)
Designer	Satoshi Wada
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	front engine/rear drive four wheel drive
Related	Nissan Skyline Nissan Laurel Nissan Leopard (coupe) Infiniti M30
Powertrain
Engine	2.5 L RB25DE I6 2.4 L RB24S I6 2.0 L RB20DET I6 turbo 2.0 L RB20DE I6 2.0 L RB20E I6
Transmission	5-speed automatic 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,670 mm (105.1 in)
Length	4,690 mm (184.6 in)
Width	1,695 mm (66.7 in)
Height	1,375 mm (54.1 in)
Curb weight	1,360 kg (2,998.3 lb)

Nissan Cefiro A31, Malaysia

Nissan released the A31 series Cefiro sedan to Japan in September 1988. It shared its transmission, engine and rear suspension setup with the R32 Skyline, F31 Leopard, and C33 Laurel with the exception of the diesel engine which was available only in the Laurel. The chassis platform and front suspension (strut type) was shared with the Laurel with the one exception of the 4WD Cefiro, which used the Skyline GTS4 front suspension (multiple link type) and front drive train. The chassis was shared with the Laurel only, as it had a slightly longer wheelbase than the Skyline chassis. It was also one of the first Japanese production vehicles to be equipped with a 5 speed automatic transmission, which was available in the 2.5L non turbo.

The Cefiro was introduced as a result of cross-town rival Toyota expanding its Mark II platform with the Toyota Cresta and Toyota Chaser triplets, with Nissan offering the Cefiro as a comparable fourth alternative to the Skyline and Laurel models, selling each vehicle at a separate Nissan dealership (Nissan Prince for the Skyline, Nissan Motor for the Laurel, Nissan Bluebird for the Leopard, and Nissan Satio for the Cefiro). The model code "A31" was chosen as the number combination "A30" was previously used by the 1967–1971 Nissan Gloria soon after Nissan had merged with the Prince Motor Company. The Cefiro took the top-level position at Nissan Satio as its exterior dimensions were exactly the same as the luxury sedans Nissan Cedric (exclusive to Nissan Bluebird) and the Nissan Gloria (exclusive to Nissan Prince) locations.

1992 Nissan Cefiro interior

Brand new, the Cefiro was slightly more expensive than the equivalent Nissan Skyline and had many modern features available for the first time. They included projector beam headlights, automatic tinting rear vision cabin mirror, electrically adjustable seats, automatic headlights, steering wheel mounted radio controls, HICAS four-wheel steering, electronically adjustable (damper) suspension and Nissans proprietary 4WD system, ATTESA E-TS. Due to its luxurious content of equipment and features installed, it helped to justify the moderately high annual road tax bill to Japanese buyers, although the exterior dimensions and engine displacement (on models equipped with 2.0L engines) remained within "compact" class size regulations to keep demand high.

Nissan took the unusual step of making a left-hand drive version of the Cefiro A31, sold in Latin America, Turkey and other Eurasian countries as a Nissan Laurel Altima – in most export markets this slot was filled by the Nissan Maxima. Unlike the Japanese versions, export models are fitted with a carburetted single cam CA20S inline-four producing 102 hp (76 kW) and RB24 engine which was a single-cam 2.4-liter RB inline-six producing 141 hp (105 kW). Left hand drive Laurel Altimas were the flagship vehicle of Nissan's Turkish lineup for the early 1990s.

From 1990, the A31 was facelifted and given a softer look with revised tail lights, center console, grill and cabin fabrics. Also available from 1990 was the line up of "SE" models, these featured yet another revised tail light, silver grill, revised bumpers, center console and updated interior.

A32
Overview
Also called	Nissan Maxima Nissan Maxima QX Nissan QX (UK) Infiniti I30 Renault Samsung SM5
Production	1994–1998 (sedan) 1997–2000 (wagon)
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Layout	front engine/front wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L VQ20DE V6 (gasoline) 2.5 L VQ25DE V6 (gasoline) 3.0 L VQ30DE V6 (gasoline)
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,700 mm (106.3 in)
Length	4,815 mm (189.6 in)
Width	1,770 mm (69.7 in)
Height	1,415 mm (55.7 in)
Curb weight	1,340 kg (2,954.2 lb)

Pre-facelift Nissan Maxima 30J (Australia)

Nissan debuted the A32 series Cefiro in August 1994 for the Japanese market. With the debut of the A32, Nissan changed the market orientation of the Cefiro from a premium sports sedan (A31) to a slightly larger executive sedan. Generally, the A32 was only badged as the Cefiro in Japan for the domestic market; A32s that were exported new from Japan often wore the Maxima badge. In Europe, the A32 was sold as the "Nissan Maxima QX". In Taiwan the Cefiro A32 was manufactured by Yulon under the Nissan brand. Other countries that adopted the Cefiro name included Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. In Korea, it was badge engineered and introduced as the Renault Samsung SM5. Certain Cefiro sold in Taiwan and South East Asian countries has rear license plate on the trunk instead of on the bumper like on the Japanese model and Infiniti I30.

Nissan Cefiro Cruising G wagon (Japan)

This particular series was softened considerably, lacking the sporting edge of the A31, losing the inline-six engine and rear-wheel drive for front-wheel drive and a V6, the latter being Nissan's award-winning VQ series engines. The Japanese market Cefiro was also offered as a wagon, as an alternative to the Toyota Mark II Qualis, from 1997 to 2000.

Infiniti I30

Infiniti I30 (US)

Infiniti launched the Cefiro in North America as the "Infiniti I30" in 1995 for the 1996 model year. All I30 models were built at Oppama, Japan (where the Maxima was built), commencing June 27, 1995. It replaced the Infiniti J30. The rear badge of the I30 used a cursive letter "I" instead of a matching font used for the "30" designation, as the "I" would have appeared as a number "1", labeling the car confusingly as the 130, in conflict with Infiniti's alphanumeric naming convention.

As Infiniti's top seller at the time, the I30 remained the brand's mid-level model, joining the entry-level Primera-based Infiniti G20 until the introduction of the Skyline-based Infiniti G35 to North America for the 2003 model year. The Infiniti I30 was also sold in South Korea and Indonesia.

The I30 shared the 3.0-liter VQ30DE V6 engine producing 190 hp (142 kW) with the North American Maxima. Infiniti made several revisions to the I30 over the years, including revised tail-lights and trunk garnish. The Touring model, I30t, gained five-spoke alloy wheels instead of the old BBS wheels. It also came with more aggressive suspension tuning as well as a spoiler and BBS wheels, and a small percentage of first-generation I30s had five-speed manual transmissions, many with VLSD. An in-dash hands-free car phone was also available as an option.

• 
  Facelift Nissan Cefiro 20G (Malaysia)
• 
  Facelift Nissan Cefiro 20G (Malaysia)
• 
  Samsung SM5 (South Korea)
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  Samsung SM5 (South Korea)
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  Nissan Cefiro (Taiwan) with rear license plate mounted on the trunk.

A33
Overview
Also called	Nissan Maxima Nissan Maxima QX Infinti I30 Infinti I35
Production	1998–2004 2002–2012 (Iran) 2001–2008 (Malaysia)
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L VQ20DE V6 2.5 L VQ25DE V6 2.5 L VQ25DD V6 3.0 L VQ30DE-K V6 3.5 L VQ35DE V6
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,750 mm (108.3 in)
Length	4,785 mm (188.4 in) (JDM pre-facelift) 4,920 mm (193.7 in) (others)
Width	1,785 mm (70.3 in)
Height	1,438–1,450 mm (56.6–57.1 in)
Curb weight	1,380–1,460 kg (3,042–3,219 lb)

Nissan released the A33 series in December 1998 for the Japanese market. In Japan, trim levels were 2.0 and 2.5 Excimo, 2.0 and 2.5 Excimo G, 2.0 and 2.5 S Touring, and 3.0 Brougham VIP. Five-speed manual transmission was only offered for the 2.0 Excimo and 2.0 S Touring. The limited edition "L Selection" and modified Autech version were also offered in Japan. In January 2001 the Cefiro received a facelift, incorporating the larger bumpers used on export models and the Infiniti I30.

In Australia, the A33 was called Nissan Maxima and sold from 1999 through to 2003. Trim levels were S, ST, and Ti—all powered by the 3.0-liter engine.

In Europe, the A33 continued to be sold as the Nissan Maxima QX. It was offered with the 2.0 and 3.0 V6 engines, producing 140 and 200 PS (103 and 147 kW) respectively.

The A33 was produced until 2008 for the Malaysian market and is available as the 3.0 Brougham VIP and Excimo 2.0 G. The Malaysian model is manufactured by Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd in Kuala Lumpur.[1] Another Cefiro version was built by Yulon for the Taiwanese market. It was the last Nissan Cefiro manufactured by Yulon. In Korea, it continued to be sold as the badge engineered Renault Samsung SM5.

The Maxima was in production from 2002 to 2012 for the Iranian market by Pars Khodro.

Nissan Teana (J31), sold as the "Cefiro" in some Asian markets

Nissan Teana (J31), sold as the "Cefiro" in some Asian markets

The Cefiro disappeared in 2003, but the name continues to be used in some export markets, using the Nissan Teana (J31) as a new replacement model. The J31 Teana was sold under the name of Cefiro in Hong Kong, Nepal, Bangladesh, Singapore, Brunei, Latin America and the Caribbean. Ghandhara Nissan in Karachi, Pakistan, was the last plant using the Cefiro name when it was replaced by the Nissan Teana J32 in late 2012.