1992 Infiniti J30 (Nissan Leopard/Y32) - MotorWeek Retro Review

Nissan Leopard J Ferie Y32

The Infiniti J30, marketed as the Nissan Leopard J Ferie in Japan, 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 after its competitors, the Lexus GS and Acura Legend. The car was sold in the mid-size sedan segment between the smaller G20 and the larger Q45, both by size and price. The small interior resulted from its rounded styling uncharacteristic of the crowded executive car class, which is now considered an early variant of a four-door coupé.

In the United States, Infiniti unveiled the J30 in Chicago on February 5, 1992.[19] By early March, prices were set at $30,000 and $34,700 for the 1993 model year J30 and J30t, respectively; there were no available options and the first cars were scheduled to be in dealer showrooms by the end of the month.[18] The car launched at $33,000 for the base and $34,700 for the touring models; by 1995, the base model had risen to $39,000, and the J30t was $2,000 more.[20]

The J30 remained nearly unchanged through its production period. Heated seats became standard equipment in the 1994 model year. For 1995, the J30 received subtle vertical ribbing in the tail light lenses, an automatically-dimming rear view mirror, and a power lumbar support control for the driver's seat;[15] in '96 the diagnostic system was upgraded to OBD-II. Otherwise, the J30 received only minor alterations between 1993 and 1997 model years.

All J30s were built in Tochigi, Tochigi, Japan. Over its lifetime, approximately 70,000 were sold in the United States (more than 20,000 per year for 1993 and 1994; 17,899 in 1995; 7,564 in 1996; and 4,594 in 1997)[21] and less than 8,000 were sold in Japan.[22] Production of the J30 ended on June 18, 1997, replaced by the Infiniti I30 (introduced in 1996).



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