Infiniti I30 / I35 History

Infiniti introduced the I30 for 1996 as a rebadged second-generation Nissan Cefiro — a front-wheel-drive near-luxury sedan mechanically related to the Nissan Maxima, powered by a 3.0-liter VQ30DE V6. Despite its straightforward formula, the I30 became Infiniti's top-selling model and sustained the brand commercially through the late 1990s.

A redesign for 2000 updated the styling and boosted output; when the engine grew to the VQ35DE 3.5-liter V6 mid-cycle, the car was renamed I35 for 2002. Production ended after the 2004 model year, as the rear-drive G35 had already replaced it as Infiniti's volume driver.