Nissan Cima

This article incorporates information from the equivalent article on the Japanese Wikipedia.

Nissan Cima

Manufacturer	Nissan
Also called	Infiniti Q45
Production	1988-2010
Predecessor	none
Successor	Nissan Fuga
Class	Full-size luxury car
Body style	4-door "B" pillar hardtop 4-door sedan

The Nissan Cima is a large luxury sedan produced by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. for the Japanese market. The car's name is derived from Spanish for "summit". The hood ornament uses an image of an acanthus leaf. The acanthus leaf was commonly used by classical Greeks to make a wreath for use as a crown.

The Cima has traditionally been Nissan's rival to the Toyota Crown Majesta. The Cima in the first two generations was a more luxurious and larger version of the Cedric and Gloria, with the Cima sharing the V8 engine from the President. Later generations of the Cima shared the same platform as the President, with the Cima being a shorter version; these iterations of the Cima were exported to the United States as the Infiniti Q45. The Q45 was discontinued after 2006, however the Cima and the President continued in production until August 2010, leaving the Nissan Fuga to become the lone flagship sedan.

The Nissan Cima was introduced in 1988 and was based on an elongated Cedric/Gloria chassis. With its phenomenal sales—about 64,000 units sold the first year and 120,000 in four years—the car became a symbol of the bubble economy. To date the Nissan Cima has sold over 278,000 units.

Y31 : January 1988–August 1991

Nissan Cima Y31

Production	1988-1991
Class	Full-size car
Body style	4-door hardtop
Layout	FR layout
Engine	V-6-cylinder 3.0 L VG30DET/VG30DE
Transmission	4 speed automatic
Wheelbase	2,735 mm (9.0 ft)
Length	4,890 mm (16.0 ft)
Width	1,770 mm (5.8 ft)
Height	1,380 mm (4.5 ft)
Curb weight	1,640 kg (3,600 lb)
Related	Nissan Cedric Y31 Nissan Gloria Y31

Up until 1989, the Japanese tax bracket dictated a division point at the car being 4,700 mm (185.0 in) long, 1,700 mm (66.9 in) wide, with a 2 liter engine. Both the Nissan Cedric/Nissan Gloria and its archrival, the Toyota Crown were stretched to this very limit. When rumors came that Toyota was developing a larger, wider extension of the Crown, called the Crown Majesta, Nissan acted hastily and could not get the wide version ready for the narrow version's launch in June 1987. The half-year gap in development, however, brought about many changes in design. This generation was manufactured as a 4 door hardtop, with no B-pillar between the front and rear side glass windows.

The Y31 Cima is available with a 200 horsepower (149 kW) VG30DE or a 255 horsepower (190 kW) turbocharged VG30DET. The turbocharged version was especially popular, leading the Japanese media to coin the term "the Cima phenomenon". The Cedric Cima was sold at dealerships where the Nissan Laurel could be found in Japan, and the Gloria Cima was sold at Nissan dealerships that sold the Nissan Skyline. The Cima was available with an air suspension.

Y32 : August 1991–June 1996

Nissan Cima Y32

Production	1991–1996
Class	Full-size car
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	FR layout/AWD
Engine	4.1 L-DOHC-V8 (VH41DE), 270 PS (199 kW; 266 hp) 3.0 L-DOHC-V6 (VG30DET)
Transmission	4 speed automatic
Wheelbase	2,815 mm (9.2 ft)
Length	4,930 mm (16.2 ft)
Width	1,780 mm (5.8 ft)
Height	1,420 mm (4.7 ft)
Curb weight	1,740 kg (3,800 lb)
Related	Nissan Cedric Y32 Nissan Leopard Y32 Nissan Gloria Y32

Following the Y32 Cedric/Gloria's June 1991 launch, the Cima was redesigned and introduced in August 1991. The car is now simply known as the Cima. The styling was more luxury-oriented than the first-generation Cima.

Initially the Cima was only available with the VH41DE, a short-stroke version of the VH45DE found in the first Infiniti Q45. The air suspension introduced in the previous generation was retained along with active suspension that was available on the USA-spec Infiniti Q45. Its appearance was said to reflect a more British appearance, both inside and out. An analog clock, found on most USA-spec Infinitis during the same time period, also appeared in this vehicle. AWD and a V8 engine were also added to the options list.

Y33 : June 1996–January 2001

Nissan Cima Y33

Also called	Infiniti Q45 FY33
Production	1996-2001
Class	Full-size car
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	FR layout/AWD
Engine	V-8-cylinder 4.1 L VH41DE V-6-cylinder 3.0 L VQ30DET
Transmission	4 speed automatic
Wheelbase	2,830 mm (9.3 ft)
Length	4,970 mm (16.3 ft)
Width	1,820 mm (6.0 ft)
Height	1,460 mm (4.8 ft)
Curb weight	1,870 kg (4,100 lb)
Related	Nissan Leopard Y33 Nissan Cedric Y33 Nissan Gloria Y33 Infiniti Q45 Y33

Unlike the previous, Japan-only models, this third-generation Cima was sold overseas—as the new Infiniti Q45. However, instead of the VH45DE engine, Nissan chose to continue using the VH41DE. This generation was made available as the USA-spec Infiniti Q45. AWD was still being offered in Japan only and it was the first car sold in Japan with side airbags as standard equipment. The styling seemed to resemble Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold at the time. This generation vehicle was used as a patrol car for the Saitama Prefectural Police Highway department. The primary competitor for this version is the Toyota Crown Majesta which also has a V8 engine.

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  Infiniti Q45

F50 : January 2001—August 2010

Nissan Cima F50

Also called	Infiniti Q45 F50
Production	2001-2010
Class	Full-size car
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	FR layout/AWD
Platform	Nissan LL platform
Engine	V-8-cylinder 4.5 L VK45DD V-6-cylinder 3.0 L VQ30DET
Transmission	4 speed automatic 5 speed automatic
Wheelbase	2,870 mm (9.4 ft)
Length	4,995 mm (16.4 ft) 5,120 mm (16.8 ft)
Width	1,845 mm (6.1 ft)
Height	1,490 mm (4.9 ft)
Curb weight	1,830 kg (4,000 lb)
Related	Nissan President PGF50

The fourth-generation Cima arrived in January 2001. The timing was early in the Nissan Revival Plan, so the Cima did not have the Skyline's FM platform. Instead, it features an updated version of the old platform, with a new rear suspension. However, Nissan's new design identity was thoroughly worked into both the exterior and interior. This Cima became known for its unique 7-reflector headlights. The Cima was sold in the USA as the Infiniti Q45. This model competed for customers for three years with the Japan only Mitsubishi Proudia, however Mitsubishi chose to use front wheel drive.

The new VK45DD direct-injection V8 features in the Japanese Cima, alongside the VQ30DET, both producing 280 horsepower (209 kW). The V8 in the Infiniti version produces 340 horsepower (254 kW). A BOSE sound system was offered in June 2002. A LHD version of this generation was offered for sale in China at the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2003. Due to tightening emissions restrictions, the turbocharged vehicle was no longer offered on the V6 engine starting July 2005. The Infiniti Q45 was no longer exported to the USA after MY 2006. This generation of the Cima is very similar to the Nissan President.

• 

  Infiniti Q45

Production ending announcement

In August 2010, Nissan announced that it had stopped the production of both the Nissan Cima and President, which share the same chassis. The two models needed safety upgrades to comply with the latest safety regulations, but lackluster sales showed that the company would not be able to recoup costs. In light of Nissan stopping development on a Cima/President successor, the Nissan Fuga has become the flagship in its lineup.

When the Fuga assumed the role as flagship sedan of Nissan Japan August 2010, it became the first time that Nissan didn't sell a premium luxury V8 sedan in Japan; the Fuga's North American cousin, the Infiniti M56, is offered with a V8 shared with the Infiniti QX56.

References

External links

• Japanese Market Nissan Cima Nissan Japan
• Nissan Sedan history (japanese site)