1997 Infiniti I30 Base Sedan 4-door 3.0l on 2040-cars

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Infiniti went out of its way to make the QX30 not a Mercedes

You can complain all you want about perceived badge engineering when a company (like Mercedes-Benz) sells a platform to another brand (such as Infiniti). The reality is that most buyers won't know the difference, and they won't even realize their Infiniti is really a Mercedes underneath or that their neighbor's GLA has the same basic parts as the QX30 they just bought. What's weird to me isn't that sameness, but the places where the two cute little utes differ. These two vehicles, which are more like tall hatchbacks, use the same Mercedes 2.0-liter turbo four and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Infiniti adds its own throttle and transmission calibrations. The suspension design is the same, although there are tuning differences. Both come standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive an option. Fuel economy matches for the FWD models, while the AWD Infiniti lags behind the Mercedes for some reason. So they're very similar despite their different looks. And design makes sense as a point of differentiation. Frankly, they go further than a lot of vehicles on shared platforms do – further, in fact, than the upcoming Nissan Navara-based Mercedes X-Class pickup does. The QX30 has its own sheetmetal and glass to separate it from the GLA-class. You probably think one looks better than the other. If you know where to look, the signs of sameness are obvious. Most major systems and pieces are shared, like the steering wheels (with different center covers), most switchgear, and things like interior and exterior door handles. Shared parts are fine as long as the parts are good ones. On that note, how many Tesla buyers realize their steering column and stalks, plus the window switches, come from Mercedes? And does that actually matter? We'd argue no. About those differences. Many are functional, like the fact the Infiniti does not carry over the Benz's Brake Hold feature – when you roll to a stop in the GLA (or any other Benz), pressing the brake pedal firmly applies the electric parking brake until you hit the gas to move again. The QX30 has an electric parking brake, but no Brake Hold feature. Someone used to driving Mercedes models will look a bit silly standing on the brake pedal to no effect. Ask us how we know. The Mercedes gauge package is carried over, but with the Infiniti font. Makes sense, although it's off-putting at first if you've seen the original, prompting a weird deja vu. Circular dash vents are replaced by rhomboid ones.

Nissan Recalls More Than One Million Vehicles For Air Bags

Nissan is recalling just over one million cars, SUVs and vans because the front passenger air bags may not inflate in a crash. It's the company's second recall to fix the same problem. The recall affects the Altima midsize car, Leaf electric car, Pathfinder SUV and Sentra compact models from the 2013 and 2014 model years, as well as the NV200 Taxi van and Infiniti JX35 SUV from 2013. Also covered are the Infiniti QX60 and Q50 SUVs from 2014. In documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Nissan says the vehicles' computer software may not detect an adult in the passenger seat. If that happens, the air bags won't inflate. Nissan will notify owners and dealers will update the software for free. The recall is expected to start in mid-April. Most of the vehicles were recalled in February of last year for a similar problem. Dealers replaced seat sensors, but Nissan said it continued to get consumer complaints and warranty claims in vehicles that had been repaired. Front passenger seats have sensors that determine the passenger's weight and turn off air bags off if a child is on board. The malfunctioning sensors can turn the air bags off even if an adult is in the seat. Nissan received three reports of air bags failing to inflate in a crash. Spokesman Steve Yeager said in an e-mail that he is not sure if anyone was hurt in those incidents. There have been no deaths due to the problem, he said. The recall affects almost 990,000 vehicles in the U.S., another 60,000 in Canada and small numbers in other countries, Yeager said. Related Gallery Nissan Searches For Identity In America

Infiniti Q30 is the company's first small hatchback

Well, here it is. Despite every attempt to show us the car via teasers, Infiniti has made it to the week of the Frankfurt Motor Show before introducing the all-new Q30, the company's version of the jointly developed Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatchback and the first compact from the Nissan-owned luxury marque. The Q30 will be available with a wide and varied array of gas and diesel powertrains for its appearances in other markets. There will be two 1.6-liter gas engines, in 120-horsepower and 154-hp varieties, and two diesels. The oil-burners, which will not be coming to the US, displace 1.5 liters and 2.2 liters, respectively. As for North America, the Q30 will follow in the footsteps of its Mercedes cousins, the CLA- and GLA-Class, and offer a single 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder with 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Although it displaces just as much as the CLA's 2.0-liter turbo and matches that car's output, enthusiasts will appreciate the six-speed manual transmission being offered alongside the Mercedes seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic. Say what you will about its Mercedes roots, but Infiniti's decision to offer a six-speed stick here in the US should be respected. The specific set of drive wheels isn't mentioned, although if the A-, CLA-, and GLA-Class are any indication, the Q30 will offer standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. That's speculation on our part, but it's a logical assumption. The Q30 has retained the A-Class' front McPherson struts and rear multi-link suspension arrangement. But while it uses an identical design, Infiniti has tuned the shocks to its own specification. Depending on trim, the Q30 will ride on either 18- or 19-inch wheels. Speaking of those trims, there are three of them. The base trim is, um, basic – Infiniti spilled very little ink on the entry level model. In fact, aside from a few simple descriptions, equipment details on the other two trims are quite scarce. Choosing the Premium line will net you unique 18-inch wheels, LED fog lamps, heated door mirrors with body color housings, and twin chrome exhausts. The Sport brings a bit more to the table, making a functional change by lowering the ride height by 0.6 inches and fitting 19-inch alloys. Gloss black and dark chrome accents on the more aggressive front and rear fascias round out the exterior enhancements.