Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants We've known since mid-December that Infiniti's new global model naming convention would turn the current-generation G37 Coupe into the Q60 Coupe starting next year, but we haven't been clear on whether the model-range-formerly-known-as-G would get a successor, especially as its volume has traditionally been a lot lower than its sedan counterpart.

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants grill

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants interior

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants logo

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants headlight

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants door panel

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants headlight 1

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants  shiffter

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants wheal

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants side mirrior

Thankfully, Infiniti president Johann De Nysschen (above) has stepped up to confirm that the newly revealed Q50 sedan will receive a two-door counterpart, though perhaps not as quickly as some would like. According to an interview with Australia's CarAdvice.com, De Nysschen says "the coupe we can probably expect two-and-a-half to three years down the road." That news also suggests that if there's an eventual convertible version, that it's a long way off, too. Why so long? Infiniti has "a lot of priorities" – priorities that undoubtedly include an already-confirmed front-wheel-drive small hatchback/crossover.

The report also indicates that Infiniti has some aspirations for stretching its new Q50/Q60 range in a higher-performance direction to take on competitors like BMW and Audi, the latter being De Nysschen's former employer. There's far from a firm timetable offered, of course, with De Nysschen saying "someday in the future we will be able to offer more high performance versions [of Q50] than we have today... the dynamic capabilities of this platform are very significant. It can handle far higher power than the engines we are using at launch."

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants

Infiniti has long envisioned itself as Japan's answer to BMW, and from where we sit, high-performance models would likely help keep the brand focused as it branches out into new segments like that of the JX, a three-row crossover with few sporting pretensions. In addition, its nascent Infiniti Performance Line [IPL] franchise could use the help – we've been underwhelmed with the pricy IPL G Coupe and Convertible to this point, and Infiniti will need to work harder if it truly wants to align its products with its growing Formula One marketing efforts.

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants

Infiniti-Red Bull Racing will seek a fourth title with the RB9

Infiniti-Red Bull Racing will seek a fourth title with the RB9 This is the car and the team that everyone wants to dethrone. The stability of this year's regulations means that the Infiniti Red Bull RB9 is a seriously honed RB8; however, that's a situation probably no other team would complain about seeing that the RB8 recovered from early stumbles and reliability issues last year to carry Sebastian Vettel to a third consecutive driver's title and the team to a third consecutive constructor's trophy.

Infiniti-Red Bull Racing will seek a fourth title with the RB9

Infiniti-Red Bull Racing will seek a fourth title with the RB9

Infiniti-Red Bull Racing will seek a fourth title with the RB9

Infiniti-Red Bull Racing will seek a fourth title with the RB9

Infiniti-Red Bull Racing will seek a fourth title with the RB9

Infiniti-Red Bull Racing will seek a fourth title with the RB9

Infiniti-Red Bull Racing will seek a fourth title with the RB9

Infiniti-Red Bull Racing will seek a fourth title with the RB9

Infiniti-Red Bull Racing will seek a fourth title with the RB9

The most noteworthy revisions to the car are the partial vanity panel that omits the driver cooling slot, the even narrower rear end – a feature of just about every car launched so far – and purple sidepods to showcase new title sponsor Infiniti. Adrian Newey, perhaps the most feared designer on the pit lane, said the nose and front wing could be changed relatively easily throughout the season, but he wanted to make sure to get the middle of the car – everything from the sidepods, back – as good as possible since they're more difficult to re-engineer. His track record leads us to believe he did just that.

Infiniti-Red Bull Racing will seek a fourth title with the RB9 

Below are two videos, one of the making of the RB9, the other the launch at team headquarters in Milton Keynes.

Infiniti-Red Bull Racing will seek a fourth title with the RB9 

Nissan's new front-wheel-drive hybrid system will be greener, just as powerful

Nissan's new front-wheel-drive hybrid system will be greener, just as powerful For those who want to cut to the chase about the latest revelations of Nissan's pending front-engine, front-wheel-drive powertrain – i.e. the FF Hybrid – it's got the same power with less fuel.

Nissan's new front-wheel-drive hybrid system will be greener, just as powerful 

Nissan's new front-wheel-drive hybrid system will be greener, just as powerful 

That's what Green Car Congress says, citing a presentation Nissan executive Owen Thunes, speaking at the recent SAE 2013 Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Technology Symposium conference in Southern California. Thunes says the 2.5-liter, four-cylinder successor to the 3.5-liter V6 that's now in the Infiniti M hybrid (pictured) will boost fuel economy while providing a similar amount of torque. The Japanese automaker will achieve this through advancements in making the transmission more efficient and by using a smaller lithium-ion battery, making the mill lighter thriftier with gas. The drivetrain will be suitable for a wide range of cars and SUVs, Nissan says.

Nissan's new front-wheel-drive hybrid system will be greener, just as powerful

Last October, Automotive News reported that the FF Hybrid may debut in the Infiniti JX three-row crossover, with a new hybrid model featuring the new powertrain debuting each year.

Nissan's new front-wheel-drive hybrid system will be greener, just as powerful

2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets bigger, better battery pack, lower MSRP

2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets bigger, better battery pack, lower MSRP Just yesterday, we told you how Hyundai's 2013 Sonata Hybrid was late out of the gate (along with its mechanical twin, the Kia Optima Hybrid), with growing speculation suggesting that the company was revisiting its gas-electric sedan with an eye toward improving its efficiency.

2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets bigger, better battery pack, lower MSRP

2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets bigger, better battery pack, lower MSRP

2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets bigger, better battery pack, lower MSRP

2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets bigger, better battery pack, lower MSRP

2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets bigger, better battery pack, lower MSRP

2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets bigger, better battery pack, lower MSRP

Well, today Hyundai has released official details, and that's exactly what's happened. Sporting a larger starter generator, a higher output electric motor and a more potent 47 kW lithium polymer battery, the 2013 Sonata hybrid is more efficient than before. The revised hardware helps the sedan jump two miles per gallon combined over its 2012 predecessor. That pushes the 2013 Sonata Hybrid to 36 mpg city, 40 mpg highway and 38 mpg combined. Engineers also tweaked the machine's software, with revised driving pattern detection and engine on/off logic.

2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets bigger, better battery pack, lower MSRP 

Surprisingly enough, the new battery pack actually weighs less than the kit in the old Sonata Hybrid, taking up less room in the trunk. Engineers shaved 4.6 pounds from the pack and the vehicle's cargo area now boasts 12.1 cubic feet of space compared to the 10.7 cubes in the outgoing model. Hyundai has yet to release any images of the updated model (a 2011 example is pictured), so presumably the revisions are limited to what's beneath the sheetmetal.

Even with all the changes, the Sonata Hybrid now carries a base MSRP of $25,650. That's $200 less than last year, and now buyers can option up to the Sonata Hybrid Limited at $30,550, plus destination. No word on any changes for the Sonata's Kia counterpart, but we'll keep you informed if anything comes to light. In the meantime, check out the full press release below for more information.

2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets bigger, better battery pack, lower MSRP 

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: February 2013

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: February 2013 I just couldn't bring myself to lead this post with the image you see on the right. The winter months have not been kind to our matte gray 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo, and since you can't just run the thing through your local car wash, our oddly shaped little hatchback has spent more days dirty than clean. It breaks my fleet manager heart to see one of our test cars covered in schmutz so frequently, but let's be honest – the last thing anyone wants to do when it's 12 degrees Fahrenheit outside is play with a hose and spend a good amount of time hand-washing a car.

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: February 2013

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo profile

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo front

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo rear

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo rear 1

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo cockpit

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo six-speed manual shifter

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo rear reflector

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo door detail

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo front seat detail

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo rear seats

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo touchscreen interface

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo exhaust

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo engine detail

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo grille and badge

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo taillamp

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo 1.6-liter turbo engine

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo rear seats 1

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo front fascia

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo 18-inch wheel

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo door handle

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo center stack

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo cargo area

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo gauge cluster

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo headlamp

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo hood detail

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo mirror

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo badge

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo front seats

Long-Term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo interior

Moral of the story: If you live in a cold-weather state where you expect to get regular doses of the white stuff, matte paint probably isn't for you. Not to worry, though, as the Veloster Turbo is offered in plenty of pretty, car wash-friendly colors.

We'll have a lot more to talk about regarding the Veloster's cleanability in forthcoming updates, and we're even planning a trip to the Dr. Beasley's office – the company that created the special matte paint detailing kit for the Hyundai – to have their experts show us how it's done. For now, let's spend some time talking about what we've learned about the turbocharged hatch during its honeymoon phase here in the Autoblog Garage.As a daily driver, the Veloster Turbo is a pleasant little thing – easy to use while bobbing around town and comfortable enough to not warrant complaint after longer stints behind the wheel. Plus, moving or standing still, this car turns heads like you wouldn't believe. Even to my trained eye, I often find myself doing a double-take when I've parked the car for the night, just to look back for one more glance. I even got two hearty thumbs-up from fellow Velosters driver (base cars) out on the road. That three-door configuration has proved to be fairly functional thus far – not so much for passengers (ingress and egress is easier than a normal coupe, but less useful than a traditional four door), but having an extra door to throw things in the rear seat is incredibly useful. All good things in terms of the overall package.During one leg of an already long weekend of driving, a friend's six-year-old kid was riding along in the back seat. When he got into his car seat, without even being asked, he said, "It's not big enough for my head." In other words, there's not a lot of rear head room in the Veloster.

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: February 2013

Only a few of us have driven the Veloster as of this writing, but we're already having debates about at least one of the Veloster's driving aspects. For example, I find the six-speed manual shifter of our test car to be pretty objectionable in terms of overall user engagement – I think the throws between gears are short, sure, but the act of moving the stick isn't pleasing. It's notchy, and not in a good way, and the short, stubby stick feels flimsy. It's noisy when clicking between gears, too. I seem to be the only person having this issue, however, as senior editor Seyth Miersma has now called me an fool on several occasions – he praises the Veloster's 'box, citing short throws and solid engagement. I'll be curious to see how the rest of the staff regards it as the months progress.One issue, though, is that there's a lot of wind noise inside the cabin while driving on the highway – enough so that when my phone rings via Bluetooth and I'm driving above 60 miles per hour, I feel like I have to shout just so the person on the other end can hear me above all the racket. I recently had a phone conversation with editor-in-chief John Neff while driving the Veloster, and he noted that he could barely hear me over all the racket. Some of the issue could also be placement or quality of the mic, too.Since the car's delivery in mid-January, we've added just over 2,500 miles to the odometer and according to our handy-dandy logbook, we're averaging 26.8 miles per gallon in relatively mixed cold-weather driving. That's slightly lower than the EPA-estimated 28 mpg combined rating (24/35 city/highway), but quite admirable considering how enthusiastically we tend to drive. We'll see how that changes over the coming months.

Next up on the Veloster's docket: A few weeks down in Ohio with boss man John Neff. Stay tuned for his thoughts in next month's update, and keep your eyes locked on our Facebook and Twitter feeds for on-the-fly impressions.

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: February 2013