The Infiniti G20 was Infiniti’s entry-level luxury car in the United States from 1990 to 2002, with a two-year break for the 1997 and 1998 model years. It was a rebadged Nissan Primera sedan, front-wheel drive, and was built in Oppama, Japan.
Infiniti G20 at a glance
| Maker | Infiniti (Nissan) |
|---|---|
| Production | 1990–1996 and 1998–2002 |
| Generations | P10 (1990–1996), P11 (1998–2002) |
| Basis | Nissan Primera sedan |
| Class | compact executive sedan |
| Layout | front-wheel drive |
| Engine | 2.0 L SR20DE four-cylinder, 140 hp |
| Redline | 7,500 rpm |
| Gearbox | five-speed manual, four-speed automatic optional |
| Front suspension | multi-link, a Nissan first for front-wheel drive |
| Touring package | G20t, from 1994 |
| Built in | Oppama, Japan |
The G20 is described in the first-generation section of the English Wikipedia article on the Infiniti G Line, which is the single source here.
History of the Infiniti G20
The G20 was launched in September 1990 as Infiniti’s first small car, an entry-level alternative to the Q45, and it was the result of Nissan’s Project 901 initiative. It was unveiled to Infiniti dealers at the 1989 New York International Auto Show, appeared to the public at the 1990 show, and the first series-production car was assembled on 10 July 1990; the last of the first-generation cars left the line on 19 July 1996. The exterior and interior of the P10 were styled by Mamoru Aoki in 1987.
Under the skin the G20 was a Nissan Primera. Because Infiniti was meant to be a premium brand, it carried more equipment than its European and Japanese relatives, while the only engine was the 2.0-litre SR20DE four-cylinder — in Europe the top engine of the Primera range. The P10 was the first front-wheel-drive Nissan with a multi-link front suspension, matched to MacPherson struts at the rear, and it came with a five-speed manual; an automatic, leather and a power glass moonroof were the first options. A G20t touring package arrived in 1994 with black leather, sport bucket seats, folding rear seats, a limited-slip differential and a rear spoiler, and in Canada the limited-slip differential was standard on manual cars from 1990.
The SR20DE produced 140 hp in the United States and 132 or 136 lb·ft of torque, and revved to 7,500 rpm. Nissan changed the engine over the years: a highport design from July 1990 to December 1993, a lowport design from 1994 to 1996 and again in 1998, and from 1999 a roller-rocker valvetrain. After the two-year gap the second generation, the P11, returned for 1998–2002; Infiniti later advertised it with the line “Born in Japan. Educated in Europe. Now Available in America.”
Design and features
- Primera pedigree: a badge-engineered Nissan Primera with a higher level of equipment for the American market.
- Multi-link front suspension: the first front-wheel-drive Nissan to use it, with independent MacPherson struts behind.
- SR20DE engine: 140 hp from 2.0 litres and a 7,500 rpm redline, shared with the Sentra SE-R and NX2000.
- G20t: the 1994 touring package with sport seats, a limited-slip differential and a spoiler.
Infiniti G20 versions
- P10 (1990–1996): the first generation, with the highport SR20DE until the end of 1993.
- P11 (1998–2002): the second generation after the two-year break.
- G20t (1994): touring package with sport seats, limited-slip differential and spoiler.
- Canadian manual cars: limited-slip differential as standard from 1990.
The G20 sat below the Infiniti I30, which took over as the entry car during the G20’s two-year break, and the later G models are covered by the G35 and G37 pages. More cars are in the Infiniti collection.
Video: Wheel Vid: Infiniti G20
Video by Eric B. on YouTube.
Sources
- Infiniti G Line, English Wikipedia: G20 history, engine, equipment, generations
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