While it was still based on the second generation of the Nissan Primera (P11), the 1999 Infiniti 20 showed some respect for the market and brought a premium car into the mass-market segment.
Infiniti brought the second generation of the G20 in 1999, three years after the second-generation Primera launch. The Japanese team took its time to adjust the Primera to obtain a higher satisfaction level. In some way, it made it. But from other perspectives, it didn't go too far from its non-premium sibling.
Sure, the exterior looked better, with its mesh-grille at the front, but the 15" light-alloy wheels were just too small to make the car look like a premium vehicle. The carmaker tried to make it look like a sporty sedan, and it made it. It added side-rockers and an apron under the front bumper. It also included a small wing on the trunk.
Inside, the G20 was a mix between executive look and mid-size market sedan. The base trim level featured cloth seats, while the leather upholstery was on the options list. But neither one of them offered sport-bucket seats to match its all-wheel independent suspension. There was no aluminum or carbon-fiber trims on the dash and neither wood as well. Despite the nicely done dashboard, it lacked some colors. It was just light gray with dark-gray plastic.
Under the hood, Nissan offered the G20 with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine that provided 140 ponies. It was paired as standard to a five-speed manual gearbox while a 4-speed automatic transmission was on the options list.