The Maesima Exestis was launched in 1996 as the NR until 2001 when became the Exestis. It was based on the front wheel drive chassis from the midsize NV-993 sedan the predecessor to the Avellca
However, the sporty European style body was too compact to fit the companies MCG or MCO series inline 4 and the new all alloy inline four cylinder under development was still a few years off and none of the licensed foreign engines would fit either.
So the company opted to use the newly developed MCF series V6 created for the full-size RWD luxury sedan the NL-992 that entered western markets in 1992. It was a reduced bore and stroke to a 2.2L.
The first generations NR was offered only in two trims in most markets. The Touring entry level trim with a detuned version of the 2.2L MCF engine without VVT while the top spec Sports Touring trim had a more powerful version with alloy wheels, airbags, retuned suspension.
It was an immediate success for Maesima and certainly helped establish the company in Western Markets. Until the arrival of the NV-998/Prova, the NR was the companies only sporty yet practical and affordable designs for the everyman.
It’s 1996 lineup consisted of the luxury RWD NL-992 sedan, the newly introduced NRZ-996 RWD sports car, and the NV-993 FWD midsize sedan and the joint venture NV-X compact.
The NR was seen as a way to use the NV-993 chassis and suspension components to produces an affordable design to appeal to the sports car craze. As the NRZ-996 marketed towards the higher end and still out of price range for most people.
During this period Maesima while still technically under the state control was growing more confident and the company was flush with foreign investment and riding the wave of an economic growth.
In later years the Exestis would introduce high-performance AWD versions the V6 engine was replaced by a wide range of advanced yet economical four-cylinder engine options. The design along with the NRZ-996 would receive a major facelift in 2004 to comply with the new laws regarding pop-up headlights.
The NR/Exestis principal competitors were vehicles like the Saminda CZ2 (1991-2000), Saminda CZ2 (2000-2006) and Dimension Singularity.
