Nissan's luxury division introduced this new sedan as an early '96 model. The front-drive 4-door I30 was based on the design used for the Nissan Maxima. Both rode a 106.3-inch wheelbase. At 189.6 inches overall, the I30 was two inches longer than a Maxima. Exterior styling was the foremost difference between the two, with the I30 wearing a more formal-looking body. Both the I30 and Maxima used the same 190-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6 engine with dual camshafts. A 5-speed manual transmission was standard and 4-speed automatic optional. Suspensions, components, and interiors also were shared. Standard I30 features included dual airbags and antilock brakes.