With a longer wheelbase, shorter overhangs, and a front-midship engine configuration, the new Stagea has definately found better proportions, and not to mention a better look in the M35 model. Always the sister car of the Skyline series, the new Stagea will not be left out of the performance picture, having an available 2.5 L turbocharged NEO VQ25DET with VTC good for "280 hp" @ 6400 rpm (once again as with all cars in Japan, an underexaggeration), linked to all four wheels. Super-Hicas is back, along with some new in-cabin features such as "intelligent" cruise control which adjusts the cars speed according to the distance and speed of the car up front using a small grille mounted sensor (also seen in some upscale Mercedes Benz cars), and ETC, or electronic toll collection system, a new feature in Japan for quick electronic toll-pay tracking with a small transmitter in the car.
Model trim breakdown:
300 RX - VQ30DD - 2WD
250t RX FOUR - VQ25DET - 4WD
250 RX/RX FOUR - VQ25DD - 2WD/4WD
250t RS FOUR/RS FOUR HICAS - VQ25DET - 4WD
250 RS V - VQ25DD - 2WD
250 RS/RS FOUR - VQ25DD - 2WD/4WD
AR-X FOUR - VQ25DET - 4WD
Stateside sales? Unlikely.