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Infiniti I30 sedan mixes a strong engine with plush comforts
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- The narrow California S18 highway runs through Santiago Canyon in the shadow of towering Saddleback Mountain on the far eastern edge of the Los Angeles basin, and a curvy blacktop course threaded around rolling hills makes this a suitable track to feel the ride quality and sample the power from a new generational edition of the I30 sedan by Infiniti.
Only problem: With police vigilantly patrolling this route and the test car's strong engine punching up serious motivation along with a lusty measure of torque, our recent trek through Santiago Canyon in a sport-tuned I30t became an exercise in trying to harness all of those horses.
Unless we constantly monitored pressure exerted by foot on throttle, the car would rip to an illicit speed faster than you could say, "Hello, Officer."
Its engine, a sophisticated aluminum V6 by Nissan with dual overhead cams and multi-valve technology, increases power for the new I30 by 37 points over the previous version to attain a total of 227 hp, plus as much as 217 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm.
New intake and exhaust manifolds, a new intake system using rotary valves and new variable-capacity muffler with twin equal-length exhaust pipes enable the engine to manage air intake and exhaust more efficiently and therefore enrich the production of horsepower and torque.
All of this muscle channels through an electronic four-speed automatic transaxle, which has been reinforced in planetary gearset and main gear to accommodate the increases in power and torque, then reprogrammed to deliver quicker up-shifts or kick-downs when demanded.
This enhanced powertrain represents the most apparent asset of the I30 for model-year 2000, but the car also contains a revised suspension, stronger disc brakes, more safety features including active head restraints and head protection from side-impact air bags, a larger passenger compartment with leather seats and more amenities aboard, as well as revamped styling for the sheetmetal.
The resulting package looks smooth and elegant in a subdued understatement.
It feels extravagant on the inside with indulgent comforts extending beyond necessity.
It behaves in an aggressive manner when asked, while serving up some of the taut handling attributes found among expensive European touring sedans.
Then there's that unusual Infiniti pricing strategy: The improved I30 comes to market bearing tags you won't have to hock the house to afford.
The primary edition -- projected to account for about three-quarters of some 20,000 units designated for the United States each year -- lists for $29,990, including a $525 delivery fee.
A touring edition -- I30t -- at $32,065 totes additional equipment like a limited-slip differential with firm tuning of the suspension, high-intensity Xenon headlights and larger alloy wheels.
Although a conservative exterior design for the I30 vaguely resembles its predecessor, everything was revamped from top to bottom, beginning with the size of the package.
The wheelbase was extended by two inches and the width by half an inch so the platform has a larger footprint, which increases its stability in motion while also carving out more space for the passenger compartment.
Cabin volume grows by 2.4 cubic feet, which shows up as move personal room. For riders in front, it means more space for heads and legs and wider foot wells, while in the rear it amounts to two more inches of legroom.
The overall structure of the I30 comes out of the Maxima flagship sedan by Japan's Nissan, parent brand of the upscale Infiniti label, although the I30 has its own unique sheetmetal modifications, suspension tuning and the interior lined in leather and laced with luxury gear.
This same exterior design shows up in Japan under the Nissan brand with the name of Cefiro applied and smaller engines offered, and it ships to Europe as a Nissan Maxima.
A new face for the I30 begins with a bold but narrow grille that's heavy with chrome in the European manner. Twin two-bulb headlight pods flank the grille as character lines run from edges of the grille up and across the bowed hood.
The profile with arched roofline supported by thin pillars looks taut and clean, and sides are relatively flat. At the rear, a tail varies from the Maxima by hiking higher.
Inside, the familiar layout sets two front bucket seats between a console that stacks an armrest on top, with a rear bench indented for two but broad enough to hold a center hump rider in a pinch.
Front buckets feel as comfortable as the firm seats on German touring cars.
Leather covers all seats as the standard upholstery and eight-way power controls move the driver's bucket this way and that. The leather-wrapped steering wheel tilts in adjustments as console, dash panel and driver's door support buttons and knobs controlling windows, locks, audio equipment and climate system.
Bright electro-luminescent analog gauges for speedometer and tachometer stand out with legible faces, and an analog clock with elegantly thin hands etches into the dash.
Standard equipment includes air conditioning integrated with automatic temperature controls, power windows with one-touch up or down operation, cruise control, plus a deluxe 200-watt Bose stereo sound system with seven speakers and in-dash CD deck.
Several packages of equipment on the I30t become options for the base I30, such as a comfort pack with driver's memory seat, and a sunroof and sunshade package with power-operated sunshade over the rear window.
A sport package for the I30t installs spoilers on rear decklid and side sills.
On-board safety systems revolve around the rigid superstructure with built-in front and rear crumple zones and side reinforcements to diffuse side impacts. In addition, dual frontal and side air bags are in place to shield front riders, along with height-adjustable seatbelt anchors and three-point seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, plus the new active head restraints.
Power-assisted brakes receive thicker disc rotors and tie to four-wheel anti-lock controls, with a traction control mechanism available optionally.
An independent strut suspension works on front wheels, with a multi-link beam arrangement in the rear.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2000 INFINITI I30 Specs |
| Description: |
Mid-size entry-luxury sedan
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| Model Options: |
Mid-size entry-luxury sedan
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| Wheelbase: |
108.3 inches
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| Overall Length: |
193.7 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 3.0-L V6
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| Transmission: |
Auto/4
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| Drive: |
Front
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| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS/opt. TCS
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| Airbags: |
2 (front) + 2 (side)
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| Gas Mileage: |
20/28 mpg
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| Price: |
$ 20,990 to $ 36,250 |
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