Cars Model 2013 2014 2015

Tuesday 5 March 2013

Infiniti takes to Facebook to explain model names, mentions 550-hp flagship

Infiniti takes to Facebook to explain model names, mentions 550-hp flagship In the note, de Nysschen talks about the challenge of product expansions with alphanumeric names that allow for flexibility without encroaching on the trademarked names of other automakers, although we're sure de Nysschen's former colleagues at Audi aren't looking forward to a Q30 or Q50. He also says that as Infiniti grows to become a global brand, the new naming structure – which closely mimics Volvo – is also designed to reduce confusion (just don't tell that to current owners). One thing that de Nysschen assured wouldn't happen is a confusing "X" added to the end of all-wheel-drive model names that would result in names like the Q60X or, even worse, the QX50X.

Infiniti takes to Facebook to explain model names, mentions 550-hp flagship

Infiniti caused quite a stir this week when it announced that it would be changing its vehicle names so that all of its cars start with Q and all of its crossovers and SUVs start with QX. Many displeased fans and owners took to social media to voice their opinions, and Johan de Nysschen, the new Infiniti boss, responded today with a Facebook post of his own.Infiniti takes to Facebook to explain model names, mentions 550-hp flagship

While we are not looking forward to relearning Infiniti's product lineup, de Nysschen has given us something to look forward to courtesy of a new performance sedan. From the brief explanation of this car, which was used as a key example in explaining the validity of the new names, we learned that the new model will be a performance version of what is now the M sedan, and it will be powered by a "charged induction" 3.0-liter V6 producing more than 550 horsepower. The M's name will become the Q70, but as of right now, it isn't clear if this will be an IPL model or something else.

Scroll down to read de Nysschen's response.

Infiniti takes to Facebook to explain model names, mentions 550-hp flagship

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK Aside from certain naming-related news, Infiniti has actually had some decent product news to announce this week. The company's president, Johan de Nysschen, alluded to a new 550-horsepower performance sedan, and now the automaker has confirmed that a new "premium compact" will go into production in 2015. Based on the fact that this new model will be built alongside the Nissan Leaf at the automaker's Sunderland, UK assembly plant, we could only hope that it's a production version of the LE Concept (shown above).

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK headlight

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK taillight

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK logo

Sunderland already produces Nissan products like the Qashqai, Juke and Note, and as a part of an investment of 250 million British pounds (around $406 million USD) for the new model, the plant would add an extra 280 jobs with the capacity to build 60,000 of the new Infinitis annually. Adding the premium compact at Sunderland means that Infiniti will have to change its plans for another new model, a bigger "C-segment hatchback," which could very well be a production version of the Etherea Concept.

Infiniti confirms new "premium compact" to be built in UK

Infiniti teases G-replacing Q50 ahead of Detroit debut

Infiniti teases G-replacing Q50 ahead of Detroit debut Preparing for the introduction of its new naming system and redesigned entry-level sedan, Infiniti has released a brief teaser video for the 2014 Q50. As a refresher, the Q50 is the replacement for the G37 sedan, and while we've seen spy shots of this car before, this video is our first detailed look at the production car.

Infiniti teases G-replacing Q50 ahead of Detroit debut

Infiniti teases G-replacing Q50 ahead of Detroit debut headlight

All we get to see in the video is a shot of the headlight, but we get to see key elements like the stylish daytime running lights, crescent-shaped parking lights and adaptive low beams. The overall shape of the headlight is very close to what we saw earlier this year on the LE Concept. We have to wait until the Detroit Auto Show kicks off in a couple weeks to see the Q50's full design (although we're sure there will be some leaks before that point), but until then, check out the short video posted after the jump.

Infiniti teases G-replacing Q50 ahead of Detroit debut

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible Infiniti rolled out the IPL version of its G37 Convertible at the Los Angeles Auto Show more than a year ago. The Infiniti Performance Line treatment logically mirrors that of the IPL G Coupe, meaning it receives both cosmetic and mechanical tweaks designed to raise the pulse of driving enthusiasts.

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible badge

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible front seat

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible grill

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible gagues

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible headligh

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible logo

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible interior

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible taillight

Aside from the overstated aerodynamic styling components and huge exhaust tips, the cabin features special leather upholstery, aluminum trim and IPL badging to distinguish it from lesser siblings. Under the hood, the 3.7-liter V6 (VQ37VHR) has been recalibrated to deliver 343 horsepower – 18 more than the standard coupe – and 273 pound-feet of torque. The suspension has been upgraded with firmer spring and stabilizer bar rates, multi-piston sport brakes are fitted and 19-inch graphite-finish wheels wrapped with summer rubber are bolted on. There are only two exterior color choices (Moonlight White and Malbec Black) and two upholstery choices (Stone and IPL-exclusive Monaco Red). Everything sounds marvelous until someone reveals its as-tested $62,415 window sticker.

2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible

2014 Infiniti Q50 hits the web early, courtesy of... Infiniti

2014 Infiniti Q50 hits the web early, courtesy of... Infiniti Well, what do we have here? It seems that Infiniti.ca, the official Canadian website of the Japanese automaker, accidentally published a load of 2014 Q50 images ahead of its official debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.

2014 Infiniti Q50 hits the web early, courtesy of... Infiniti

2014 Infiniti Q50 hits the web early, courtesy of... Infiniti

2014 Infiniti Q50 hits the web early, courtesy of... Infiniti

As you can see in our high-res image gallery of screen shots above, the 2014 Infiniti Q50 carries along in the footsteps of the marque's current curvy design language. There's the requisite pinched chrome grille, upswept headlight clusters, and a hood with multiple flowing ridges, peaks and valleys.

2014 Infiniti Q50 hits the web early, courtesy of... Infiniti

As confusing as the newly Q-infused lineup may be on paper, there's simply no mistaking the new Q50 for anything but an Infiniti. You can expect a whole slew of images, facts, figures and commentary on the new luxury sedan on Monday, but until then, feel free to let us know what you think in the Comments.

2014 Infiniti Q50 hits the web early, courtesy of... Infiniti

2014 Infiniti Q50 debuts G-replacing design, new hybrid model

2014 Infiniti Q50 debuts G-replacing design, new hybrid model Feast your eyes upon the all-new 2014 Infiniti Q50. Say what you will about Infiniti's new Q and QX naming system, but after looking at the new Q50 unveiled today at the Detroit Auto Show and checking out its feature list, we're having a hard time coming up with any additional criticisms. The highlights of the Q50, which goes on sale this summer in the US, include the eye-catching design, innovative cabin technology and a fuel-efficient hybrid model.

2014 Infiniti Q50 debuts G-replacing design, new hybrid model

2014 Infiniti Q50 debuts G-replacing design, new hybrid model

2014 Infiniti Q50 debuts G-replacing design, new hybrid model

2014 Infiniti Q50 debuts G-replacing design, new hybrid model headlight 1

2014 Infiniti Q50 debuts G-replacing design, new hybrid model grill

2014 Infiniti Q50 debuts G-replacing design, new hybrid model headlight

2014 Infiniti Q50 debuts G-replacing design, new hybrid model interior

2014 Infiniti Q50 debuts G-replacing design, new hybrid model mirior

The Infiniti G has always had a focus on leading-edge styling, and its replacement is no different. We can easily see that the basic theme of the Q50 was inspired by the Infiniti LE Concept we saw earlier in the year. The edges are a little toned down for the production design, but the overall look is there with the fluidic lines, crescent-shaped C-pillar, the now-signature grille and the horizontal headlights and taillights. Compared to the current G Sedan, the Q50 is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor, and it's also more aerodynamic with a drag coefficient of just 0.26, putting in between the Chevrolet Volt (0.28) and the Toyota Prius (0.25).Step inside the Q50, and you'll see a very familiar cabin with one significant exception: the center stack. The new Infiniti InTouch system features a pair of large and independent displays (yes, two) that utilize touch and hand-gesture controls. The climate and some of the audio controls are operated by actual buttons, but everything else is controlled using InTouch. One of the big benefits of this system is that a user can search and set destinations on one of the screens while the other is still displaying the map. There are also numerous apps that come preloaded into the system, and a new i-Key feature allows the car to recognize up to four different keys, allowing each driver to customize as many as 96 vehicle settings. As for the rest of the interior, it gets the same styling we've come to expect from Infiniti.

2014 Infiniti Q50 debuts G-replacing design, new hybrid model

The base engine for the Q50 is carried over from the G37 with a 3.7-liter V6 producing 328 horsepower and 269 pound feet of torque, but the big news in the powertrain department is the addition of a hybrid model. Using a similar system to what is now known as the M35h (soon to go by the Q70 name), the Q50 Hybrid is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 paired to a 50 kW motor and compact lithium ion battery to give a total power output of 354 hp. Fuel economy estimates were not released for the hybrid, but in the M35h, this system is rated at 27 mpg city and 32 mpg highway; being newer and lighter, we wouldn't be surprised to see much better numbers for the Q50 version. Both versions of the car use a seven-speed automatic with rev matching, and the Q50 will come standard with rear-wheel drive and offer all-wheel drive as an option. Additional powertrains will eventually be added for global markets, but these have not been announced either.New driver technologies that the Q50 offers are Direct Adaptive Steering and Active Lane Control. Direct Adaptive Steering consists of an electric power steering system, but it ups the ante by allowing each wheel to be controlled independently and offers four different driver-selectable modes. Active Lane Control, meanwhile, is a part of the Lane Departure Prevention system, and it helps Q50's driver use fewer steering inputs by compensating for crosswinds and road conditions (i.e., road crowns) in addition to the LDP's ability to keep the vehicle in its intended lane. The Q50 will also allow for some performance options such as a sport-tuned suspension, upgraded wheels and summer tires

2014 Infiniti Q50 debuts G-replacing design, new hybrid model

Analyzing De Nyscchen's 25-year comeback plan for Infiniti

Analyzing De Nyscchen's 25-year comeback plan for Infiniti When Johan De Nysschen left his post at Audi of America last year to take the seemingly thankless job of leading Infiniti's global operations, it seemed like a familiar scenario. Like Michael Dukakis going from one of two men that could have won the White House to teaching political science at an obscure Florida college.

Analyzing De Nyscchen's 25-year comeback plan for Infiniti

De Nysschen was a key architect in rebuilding Audi in the US, from a punchline about "sudden acceleration" in the 1980s, to being a truly hot brand and legitimately vying with BMW and Mercedes-Benz for one-percenters' German car bucks. In talking about his task at Infiniti with me, he repeated a line that I wonder if he mentioned to Nissan-Renault honcho Carlos Ghosn at the hiring meeting: "It took us 25 years to bring Audi back in the US. This kind of thing takes a long time."

What's he up to? On the surface, Nissan has made a few moves to get Infiniti its own identity within the company. The organization moved from Tokyo to Hong Kong and registered a new company ID: The Infiniti Global Ltd. When he got there, he said, "The cupboard was emptier than I knew." So De Nysschen is also directing the new product plan, as well as asking ad agency TBWA/Chiat Day to put together a walled-off agency for his brand, rather than having the agency divide teams for both Nissan and Infiniti.On the hardware front, Infiniti will employ a high-performance four-cylinder engine from Daimler by way of an alliance between Nissan-Renault and the German automaker. And it will also get a vehicle platform from Daimler that Infiniti and Nissan are co-developing – an arrangement that is similar to the alliance Volkswagen has with Porsche for the Cayenne and Touareg.

What did he tell Ghosn was his recipe for fixing the 23-year-old brand? "We have to have our own powertrains, our own designs, our own identity. You can't run a premium brand like you run a mass-market brand." His goal before he packs it in? "To be accepted into the club of global luxury car brands."Sales target? Fasten your seat belt. Though Infiniti sold fewer than 200,000 globally in 2012, the former Audi US chief says he plans to reach 500,000 sales by 2017. Granted, he says, a big chunk of that will come from China. Still, we are reminded of what the kidnapper told Liam Neeson in Taken when he warned the bad guy not take his daughter: "Good luck."

Infiniti's global ambitions are just that. More than half the company's sales are in the US, though it is sold in 15 countries with just 230 dealers. There has been a long established pattern of cars that are sold as up-market Nissans in Japan sold as Infinitis elsewhere.

One of the first marketing measures De Nysschen tackled was model naming. He has ditched the haphazard nomenclature of the G, M, J and FX for a new system going forward, whereby all sedans and coupes will be called Q – as in the new Q50, which is the updated G37. All crossovers and SUVs wil be called QX followed by a double digit number.Ironically, back in the 1990s, De Nysschen had to meet with Infiniti officials to discuss a beef over model naming because Infiniti had the Q prefix, and Audi wanted to use it for what became the Q3, Q5, Q7, etc. The compromise was that Audi would have to stop at Q9, and Infiniti, he says, will use Q and QX followed by double-digit numbers.

Yeah... that ought to be clear to everyone.Analyzing De Nyscchen's 25-year comeback plan for Infiniti

So, Infiniti has had one consistently praised model, the G, which is also the only model prefix with any name recognition associated with Infiniti. And he scrapped it as first order of business?

Lest we think De Nysschen is a bit mad or a masochist, we should remember that Liam Neeson did actually get his daughter back in Taken after killing, like, a hundred Albanian bad guys, and suffering only a shoulder wound and a gimpy leg.