Nissan Leopard (F31)

Nissan Leopard (F31). 1986–92 (prod. 38,000 approx. sold). 2-door coupé, 2-door convertible. F/R, 1998 cm³ (V6 OHC), 1998, 2960 cm³ (V6 DOHC). Narrow, rear-wheel-drive V6 specialty coupé rivalling Toyota Soarer (Z20), but never capturing the success of its rival. Plenty of gadgets, and wide engine range of turbo and non-turbo models. Mid-term changes in 1988. No four-door this time, which hardly helped sales, though a two-door convertible was developed for export as the Infiniti M30. Coupé and convertible were meant to spearhead Infiniti’s launch into the US, taking on Lexus, but the cars were equally unsuccessful there. Television promotion helped Leopard gain a cult status in Japan, but long in the tooth by Japanese standards come 1992. Related to Nissan Skyline (R31) and Nissan Laurel (C32) in platform.

Manufacturing location: Japan

Marque: Nissan | Model: Nissan Leopard | Predecessor: Nissan Leopard (F30) | Successor: Nissan Leopard J. Ferie

Off-site link

• J. Koch: ‘Nissan Leopard/Infiniti M30’, Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car, August 2009