This compact luxury sedan was introduced to the INFINITI lineup for the 1991 model year, giving the new brand an entry-level offering below the larger Q45 and performance-oriented M30. The first generation was derived from Nissan’s Primera and was positioned as a driver-focused, relatively understated luxury car rather than a showy flagship. It established the nameplate’s identity around balanced handling, efficiency, and an approachable price point, which helped define INFINITI’s early showroom lineup in North America.
The nameplate’s history is split into two distinct production periods. The original run covered the 1991 through 1996 model years, after which the model was discontinued and INFINITI temporarily moved on to other entry-luxury offerings. After a two-model-year gap, the nameplate returned for 1999 with an all-new second generation based on the contemporary Primera. This revival continued through the 2002 model year. The return kept the same basic mission, but with a more modern body and a stronger emphasis on European-style sport-sedan character.
Enthusiasts often remember this model as one of the more distinctive early INFINITI products: compact in size, front-wheel drive, and notably different from the larger Japanese luxury sedans that dominated the segment at the time. Its long history, brief hiatus, and revival make it a noteworthy chapter in INFINITI’s early expansion in the United States.