So when Nissan Motor Philippines Inc. (NMPI) gave the Cefiro a restyling, it took one step further by creating the most powerful luxury car in its class: The 3.0-liter Cefiro 300EX.
"A lot of changes have been undertaken on the Cefiro since it was introduced many years back. But placing a 3.0-liter VQ engine is the biggest change on the Cefiro ever, and that will make our top-of-the-line luxury car stand out in its class because of its very high power output," Nhorrie Franco, NMPI Cefiro product specialist, said.
The Cefiro 300EX’s VQ30DE 3.0-liter engine pumps out a class-leading 220PS at 6,400 rpm and 29.3 kg-m of torque at 4,000 rpm. And it delivers immense power smoothly even when pushed real hard.
The famed 3.0-liter VQ30DE engine is not just an ordinary engine – it belongs to the VQ family of engines, which is acknowledged as one of the best six-cylinder engine designs in the automotive world. Very well known for smoothness, durability, power delivery and ease of maintenance, the VQ is an engine that is also shared with the fabled 350z.
Luxury features also abound in the 300EX, like full-leather seats, a top-of-the-line JVC 2 DIN audio system with single in-dash CD with cassette player and 12-disc CD changer, heads-up display (HUD) digital speedometer, fully automatic climate control system with rear aircon vents, and driver seats with 8-way power adjustment for the driver seat. New 16-inch rims give the Cefiro 300EX a bolder look.
The rear power sunshade is the very first in its class for the local market. It cuts down substantially the ultraviolet rays entering a car’s interior, greatly enhancing the cooling of the interior.
Safety features include dual front airbags, ABS+EBD+BA (anti-lock brakes+electronic brakeforce distributor+brake assist), back sonar and the impact absorbing Zone Body with crushable zones and safety restraint zone.
On the exterior, the Cefiro sports a new vertical grille design with a hood mascot, and a redesigned headlight design and tail light combination.
NMPI also offers 2.0-liter variants of the Cefiro: The Superior and the Classic.
The Superior has all the luxury features of the 300EX, and the only difference it has on the exterior is the horizontal grille, the 15-inch rims, and the lack of a hood mascot.
On the other hand, the Classic has fabric seats, and a 1 DIN JVC audio system with single indash CD with remote control and 12-disc CD changer. It also shares the same horizontal grille and the 15-inch rims of the Superior.
