All-New 2000 Infiniti I30 Sets New Standard for Mid-Size Luxury Sedans
1 April 1999
All-New 2000 Infiniti I30 Sets New Standard for Mid-Size Luxury Sedans with 'More of Everything' NEW YORK, March 30 -- Infiniti today introduced the second
generation of its popular mid-size luxury sedan, the Infiniti I30, at a press
conference at the 1999 New York Auto Show. It is scheduled to go on sale in
September of 1999 as a year 2000 model at Infiniti retailers nationwide.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990330/LATU068 )
"New York is a special venue for Infiniti," said Tom Orbe, vice president
and general manager, Infiniti Division. "Besides being one of our top sales
regions, it's where we've made many significant announcements -- including the
creation of the division itself ten years ago and the new G20 luxury sports
sedan last April."
The all-new 2000 Infiniti I30 continues the tradition of the original as a
fully equipped, performance-driven luxury car. The elegantly styled I30
offers increased power, more interior room, and refined ride and handling.
"The new I30 raises the bar for all cars in class," said Orbe. "It offers
powerful elegance within reach."
Pricing will be announced closer to the I30's fall on-sale date.
Making A Great Car Even Better
The original I30 was introduced in April of 1995 as a 1996 model.
Immediately it won accolades including "Best New Car, $25,000 - $35,000" from
Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
In the 1997 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS), the I30
was ranked "Best Entry Luxury Car." One year after its successful launch, the
Infiniti I30 was honored by the American Marketing Association with a Gold
Edison Best New Product Award. For 1999, Kiplinger's Personal Finance voted
I30 "Best In Class, $25,000 - $35,000." Yet even with all its success,
Infiniti engineers could not leave well enough alone and changed almost
everything on the vehicle for the 2000 model year.
I30's most obvious changes are to the exterior, with a complete body
restyle, distinctive from the previous generation I30 and to all other
vehicles in class. The vehicle is larger, with a dramatic 4.1-inch overall
length increase (from 189.6 inches to 193.7 inches) and a 2.0-inch longer
wheelbase (increased from 106.3 inches to 108.3 inches).
The new I30's elegant and luxurious appearance is first announced by the
new chrome grille, which is subtle and classy. A new two-bulb headlight
design assists in presenting the new face of I30. Fog lights also combine
function and style, giving I30 an aggressive yet subtle look.
New body panels give the I30 a luxurious, sensuous shape with muscular
overtones. A large passenger greenhouse features green tinted heat and UV
light reducing glass. There is a steeper rake to both front and rear glass
than the previous generation and the side windows have been revised to enhance
the cabin and give a "panoramic" view.
Large wheels and tires -- 16-inch standard and 17-inch on the Touring
Model provide -- I30 strong sporty overtones, giving a glimpse of the
performance available from the powerful V6 and revised suspension.
The rear end features a new taillight design, featuring new lights with a
jewel-like appearance, new license plate holders, a new bumper design and is
finished off with a dual tip exhaust outlet. The body side moldings are
vehicle color and the radio antenna is integrated into the rear glass for a
smooth, uncluttered exterior appearance.
Optional is a power sliding glass sunroof with rear tilt and sunshade and
one-touch auto-open/close with safety reverse feature.
The new I30's luxury feel is also reinforced by its exceptional attention
to detail. Heater and cooling vents on the instrument panel close flush for a
sleek appearance, dome light switches are easier to operate, and the front and
rear door levers are larger and easier to use with gloved hands. There has
been extensive use of noise, vibration and harshness countermeasures for
isolation of wind and road noise.
Enhanced Safety
The new I30's safety features include an improved impact dispersion body
side structure which includes reinforced roof side rails, B-pillars and side
sills, pipe-style steel side-door guard beams, 3-point seat belts for all
seating positions, front seat belts with seat belt pretensioners and load
limiters, dual supplemental front air bags and front-seat supplemental side-
impact air bags.
For the first time in the U.S., Infiniti will offer front seat active head
restraints as standard equipment on the I30. The active head restraints
cradle the head at impact to aid in preventing whiplash and other more serious
injuries primarily in rear-end collisions.
Also available is the optional Infiniti Communicator, mounted in a custom
roof console, which allows I30 passengers to connect to the Infiniti Response
Center (IRC) for 24-hour assistance. After pushing the appropriate
Communicator button, voice contact is made between the I30 occupant and IRC
operator using state-of-the-art cellular phone technology and a Global
Positioning System.
The Infiniti Communicator can be used for emergency purposes or merely for
information about the surrounding area. In case of air bag deployment, the
IRC is notified immediately.
Optional on Touring Model I30's is traction control and the Heated Seats
Package.
Optional on the Comfort & Convenience Package and Touring Model is the
Infiniti Communicator.
The 2000 I30 will be available in eight exterior colors and three interior
colors including -- two new colors, Titanium and Millennium Jade.
"The new I30 sets new standards for mid-size luxury sedans with more of
everything -- power, luxury, space, comfort and quiet," said Orbe "It's a car
that proudly wears the Infiniti badge."
The Total Ownership Experience
Standard on all 2000 I30s is membership in the Infiniti Owner's Club,
launched in January 1999, as well as the Total Ownership Experience(R) which
has been a core part of the Infiniti philosophy since the inception of the
Division in 1989.
Membership in the Infiniti Owner's Club includes all of the Total
Ownership Experience(R) benefits -- superior products and service, roadside
assistance, complimentary service loan car -- and Owner Extras, a new benefits
package. Owner Extras includes special offers on travel, events and
merchandise. Each month Owner Extras provides Infiniti owners with new and
exciting offers, such as two free round-trip airline tickets to Hawaii with
the purchase of seven nights' accommodations for two at participating hotels,
savings on the innovative Palm Pilot electronic organizer, or special pricing
on a U.S. Open Tennis Tournament package.
About Infiniti
Infiniti, the luxury division of Nissan North America, Inc., is supported
by a network of more than 145 retailers. For information on the complete line
of Infiniti luxury vehicles and The Total Ownership Experience(R) philosophy,
visit Infiniti's online news bureau at http://www.infiniti-usa.com.
Visit the Infiniti Online News Bureau at http://www.nissannews.com
