2000 Infiniti I30...Continued

I30 carries forth a more distinctive set of styling features that finally are giving the brand some corporate identity after some fitful false starts. A chrome grille headlines the luxurious appearance, which is subtle and classy. A new two-bulb headlight design sweeps the lines upward, emphasizing the wide and purposeful stance, and hints at the good interior room. Fog lights combine function and style, giving I30 an aggressive yet subtle look.

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.

The body side moldings blend into the vehicle color and the radio antenna is integrated into the rear glass for a smooth, uncluttered exterior appearance.

Given the luxury positioning, good performance is a plus and this comes through in design features. Large wheels and tires -- 16-inch standard and 17-inch on the Touring Model provide-I30 strong sporty overtones, hinting at the promise of the performance available from the powerful V6 and revised suspension.

Since its introduction, the Infiniti 3.0-liter powerplant has been lauded and successful in every racing venue pursued by the company. The V6 has been named one of the "10 Best Engines" by Ward's Auto World for five consecutive years.

For 2000, the engine gets a new variable induction intake and exhaust manifolds and a new variable capacity muffler adopted from the high performance Nissan Skyline GT-R. These changes help increase the engine's horsepower from 190 to 227. Additional refinements include a thicker radiator for better cooling and emissions, and new cooling fans and a new four-point engine mount design with two electronically controlled fluid mounts for reduced vibration. The I30 offers a 100,000-mile tune-up interval through the adoption of double-tipped platinum-tip spark plugs.

I30 comes standard with a 4-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission. The Multi-Link Beam suspension offers precise handling and performance is also reinforced by 4-wheel disc brakes with bigger rotors with a standard 4-channel/4-sensor Anti-lock Braking System. A limited-slip differential is standard on Touring Models and a Traction Control System is available.

The sportiest I30, the I30 Touring Model (I30t), offers standard viscous limited-slip differential, 17-inch alloy wheels with P225/50VR17 all-season tires, sport-tuned suspension, smoked headlight treatment and HID Xenon headlights.