Nissan has just released the fifth generation Cima in the Japanese market. It is basically a re-batched Infiniti M35h with minor exterior changes, such as a large chromed grille.

The car will only be available as a hybrid, using Nissan's VQ35HR engine coupled to an advanced HM34 electric motor. The combined output is 369bhp with a massive 620Nm of torque. Like its Infiniti cousin, all the power is sent to the rear wheel via a 7-speed automatic gearbox. Going by the performance of the M35h, the Cima should reach 100km/h from rest in just 5.5 seconds.

The large luxury sedan achieves 20% improvement in fuel economy over 2015 standards and is SU-LEV certified. This also qualifies the vehicle for preferential tax breaks under the Japanese tax system that promotes the diffusion of environmentally friendly vehicles. Therefore, the car is fully exempted from the automobile acquisition tax and automobile weight tax.

The Cima has traditionally been Nissan's rival to the Toyota Crown Majesta. To date, the Nissan Cima has sold over 278,000 units. The Cima goes on sale on 21st May at Nissan dealers nationwide in Japan for a price range of