The 2012 Cima is entirely based on the long-wheelbase Infiniti M35hL. Nissan doesn't sell the Infiniti brand in Japan, but it has often offered rebadged versions of Infiniti models. That is the case with the Cima: aesthetically speaking, the biggest change between the M35hL and the Cima is a new grille adorned by a Nissan logo.
The front passenger wasn't overlooked, either, as the passenger seat features what Nissan bills as an Ottoman-style legrest.
Previous Cima models were available with a V8 engine, but the latest installment of the nameplate is exclusively sold with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that is rated at 306 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. It works in conjunction with an electric motor that draws its power from a lithium-ion battery. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission.
According to Nissan, the significant increase in fuel economy and the drop in CO2 emissions means that the car qualifies for numerous tax breaks in Japan.
When it goes on sale late next month, the Cima will carry a base price of 7,350,000 yen, which converts to about $90,000. Nissan hopes to sell approximately 1,000 units a year.
The Cima will be a Japan-only model, and Nissan does not plan on selling it in Europe or in the United States.
