| Nissan Cefiro | |
|---|---|
 Nissan Cefiro (A33) in Japan. | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Nissan |
| Production | 1988–2004 |
| Assembly | Japan: Oppama Plant, Yokosuka, Kanagawa (1994–2003) Thailand: Samut Prakan (Siam Motors, 1990-2004) Philippines: Makati (1991–1998) Santa Rosa (1998–2007) Iran: Tehran (Pars Khodro) South Korea: Busan Taiwan: Miaoli (Yulon Motors) Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Serendah (Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM)) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon (A32) |
| Related | Nissan Maxima Renault Samsung SM5 |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Nissan Skyline (Middle East) |
| Successor | Nissan Teana (Japan, Taiwan, Southeast Asia) Nissan Maxima (Middle East) |
The Nissan Cefiro (Japanese: 日産・セフィーロ, Hepburn: Nissan Sefīro) is a mid-size passenger car manufactured and marketed by Nissan Motors over three generations. Almost all Cefiro's were marketed as four-door sedans, though a five-door wagon body style was briefly available (1997–2000). In most cases, the Cefiro used Nissan's VQ six-cylinder engines, named Ward's 10 Best Engines more than ten years running.
Nissan marketed the Cefiro in the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) as well as worldwide, the latter under numerous badge-engineered nameplates, including as the Nissan Maxima (North America, Australia), Samsung SM5 (Korea), Infiniti I30 and Infiniti I35 (North America) and Maxima QX (Europe, Russia). Models manufactured under license were marketed in Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur and Taiwan.
The first generation Cefiro (internally designated the A31, 1988-1994), used rear-wheel drive; offered four- and six-cylinder engines; and became popular in motorsport drifting. The second generation (A32, 1995-1998) and third generation (A33, 1995-2004) used exclusively a front-wheel drive and V6 engine drivetrain. After the A31, A32 and A33 generations, Nissan would also later use the Cefiro nameplate on examples of its first generation Teana (J31) sedan — exported to Asian and Latin American markets.
Nissan began using the Cefiro nameplate - derived from the name given in Greek mythology to the god of "the wind from the west" - in 1988; the nameplate was officially retired in 2012.