The Nissan Fuga (Japanese: 日産・フーガ Nissan Fūga) is a mid-size luxury sedan produced by Japanese automaker Nissan from 2004 to 2022. It is built on a wider, stretched wheelbase version of the Nissan FM platform. After the Nissan Cima and Nissan President were discontinued in August 2010, the Fuga became Nissan's flagship vehicle. In North America and Europe, the Fuga was sold as the second and third-generation Infiniti M and Infiniti Q70, where it was the flagship sedan of the Infiniti luxury division of Nissan from 2006 to 2019. In 2022, the Fuga was discontinued alongside the Cima, leaving the Skyline as Nissan's sole sedan offering in Japan.

First shown as the Fuga Concept at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show, the F51 replaced the long-running Nissan Cedric, Gloria, Cima and President. The name derives from the Italian fuga, for fugue, the musical composition form.

First generation (Y50; 2004)

The Fuga was launched in Japan on 14 October 2004, as the successor to the Cedric and Gloria.

When the Prince (Nissan) Gloria was first introduced in 1959, it was based on a stretched version of the original Prince Skyline, which was first introduced in 1957. Nissan used this approach again for the Fuga, using the Skyline platform again. The Fuga was available at Japanese Nissan dealerships called Nissan Red Stage and Nissan Blue Stage until Blue Stage and Red Stage dealerships were combined into one Japanese Nissan dealership network utilized internationally in 2005.

Nissan wanted to create a fresh approach started by the Cedric/Gloria and focus its efforts to compete with European executive mid-sized sports sedans, such as the BMW 5 series, Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Jaguar S-Type. The Fuga's primary competitor is the Toyota Crown Athlete Series, but also competes with the Lexus GS, as well as Honda Legend.

The Fuga trim levels were divided into the "XV" and "GT" trims,

| platform = FR-L "enhanced FM"

| engine = 2.5 L V6 VQ25HR<br />3.7 L V6 VQ37VHR<br />3.5 L V6 (Hybrid) VQ35HR

| motor = 68PS Nissan HM34 high-response Motor (3.5 L models only)

| transmission = 7-speed Jatco JR712E automatic

| battery = 1.4 kWh Li-ion

| drivetrain = Intelligent Dual Clutch Control

| length =

| width =

| height =

| layout = FR layout/AWD

| body_style = 4-door sedan

| weight =

| wheelbase =

| related = Infiniti M<br />Infiniti FX<br />Infiniti G<br />Infiniti EX<br />Nissan 370Z<br />Nissan Skyline

| designer = Hideo Komuro (2007)

The second generation Nissan Fuga, introduced as the Infiniti M, was previewed at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The new Fuga debuted at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The production version went on sale across Japan starting on December 21, 2009. It is sold in overseas markets under the Infiniti nameplate as the third-generation M (M37/M56/35h/30d). The second generation Fuga's body design (styled by Hideo Komuro in 2007), took on a more organic look. and was a resurrection of a 1960s and 1970s appearance called "coke bottle styling" that was used on the 1970s Nissan Cedric and Nissan Gloria.

thumb|left|Interior

The Y51 series Infiniti M / Nissan Fuga introduced November 2009 is only shorter than the F50 series Nissan Cima, with the same width dimensions of and height of compared to the Cima's of height. In August 2010, the Fuga became Nissan's flagship with the announcement of the cancellation of the Nissan Cima and the Nissan President. The Fuga is shorter than the Nissan President, and the Fuga has a longer wheelbase at , compared to the wheelbase on the President and Cima at . When the Fuga assumed the role as flagship sedan of Nissan Japan August 2010, it became the first time that Nissan didn't sell a premium luxury V8 sedan in Japan; the Fuga's North American cousin, the Infiniti M56, is offered with a V8 shared with the Infiniti QX56.

World first Wrong-way driving warning debuted on the Fuga hybrid in 2010.

The VK45DE V8 engine used in the previous generation is no longer offered in Japan, neither is the succeeding VK56VD V8 which is only found on the Fuga's North American counterpart, the Infiniti M56. The larger 5.6L engine incurs a higher rate of road tax liability which hampers sales. The VQ35HR 3.5 L V6 Hybrid is now the Fuga's third engine option, utilizing the Atkinson cycle. The electric motor, installed in parallel between the engine and the transmission, produces from 1.3kWh lithium-ion batteries that are expected to have a service life of 10 years. The batteries are installed upright behind the rear seats. The Fuga Hybrid introduced Nissan's first in-house developed electric hybrid technology, and Nissan claims it will double the fuel economy of its gasoline-powered version.

A driving mode selector knob has been installed as standard equipment on all models, situated below the transmission gear lever and between the heated and ventilated front seat controls, providing four selections labeled "Standard", "Sport", "Eco", and "Snow", allowing the 7-speed transmission, engine and various systems to optimize driving based on varying conditions. To minimize exhaust noise intrusion into the passenger compartment from the engine at low RPMs, "Active Noise Control" has been installed. Double-piston shock absorbers, developed by Kayaba Industry Company, have replaced the ones previously supplied by Hitachi.

Trim levels offered in Japan start with the 250GT, 250GT Type P, 250GT "A" package; 370GT, 370GT FOUR (AWD), 370GT FOUR (AWD) "A" package, 370GT Type S, with the 370VIP at the top of the range. The 370GT Type S uses 20" Bridgestone Potenza RE050A 245/40 tires, with other trim packages using Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT 245/50 tires on 18" with all wheels consisting of aluminum alloy.

Some of the optional interior equipment includes heated and ventilated front seats, a 16 speaker Bose "studio surround" audio system, power reclining rear seats, power ottoman for the rear passenger opposite the driver, and HDD navigation combined with a telematics subscription service called "CarWings" in Japan.

Safety technology has also been introduced, such as Lane Departure Prevention, which uses a small camera mounted above the rearview mirror to gauge distance from the lane markers, and will lightly tap selected brakes when necessary to help ease the car back into the correct lane. It will allow for unimpeded lane changes when the turn signal is used, and will yield control to the driver at all times.

Blind Spot Intervention System uses sensors to provide a visual warning in the side view mirror. If the car senses that movement towards the obstacle is occurring, it will provide an audible warning and will apply opposite side brakes to guide the vehicle into the correct lane.

The Nissan Fuga Hybrid, together with the Nissan Leaf, will include Nissan's new Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians system to alert pedestrians, the blind and others to their presence when the hybrid is operating at low speeds in all-electric mode.

In 2022, Nissan ended production of the Fuga, as well as the Cima, with no plans for a successor for either model.

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The rearview of Nissan FUGA HYBRID VIP (DAA-HY51) with optional parts (cropped).jpg|2009 Nissan Fuga Hybrid (HY51, Japan)

NISSAN FUGA Y51 370GT type S 2016 01.jpg|2016 Nissan Fuga 370GT Type S (KY51; facelift, Japan)

Nissan FUGA HYBRID VIP (5AA-HY51) front.jpg|2020 Nissan Fuga Hybrid VIP (HY51; facelift, Japan)

</gallery>

Engines

{| class="wikitable"

|-

!Model!!Years!!Type/code!!Power, torque at rpm

|-

|370GT||2009–2022||3.7L V6 24-valve VVEL (VQ37VHR)|| at 7000, at 5200

|-

|250GT||2009–2022||2.5L V6 24-valve (VQ25HR)|| at 6400, at 4800

|-

|Hybrid||2010–2022||3.5L V6 24-valve (VQ35HR)|| at 6800, at 4800 <br> from electric motor

|-

|}

References

  • Automobil Revue, Katalognummer 2006 (Technical data)
  • Nissan Fuga: Japanese sales brochure, Print Reference C2108-1201AAA, 2007 (Data 450 GT and Prices)
  • Nissan Japan pages: early, current