Thursday 20th December 2012

Infiniti confirms 550hp saloon flagship

Company president says that a fast Q70 (aka M-Series) is coming

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Infiniti might not be a brand that registers on PHers’ radars much, but it’s been in the news quite a bit in the last few days, for good and bad reasons.

First, there was the news that the company will re-name its entire range. Starting in 2014, all Infiniti models will go by a new naming structure that apparently aims to simplify things. Instead of including the engine size as a part of the model name, Infinitis will now go by a standard name which will be used across all derivations of that model. So instead of M-Series models being called M37, M30d and M35h, they’ll now simply go under one name: Q70, with the ‘Q’ signifying (for some reason) a saloon model. SUVs will gain the prefix QX instead of Q, while smaller models will be known by smaller numbers. Clear? As mud...

New model based on this. Whatever it's called.

This new strategy has been met with some resistance over in the US, and to try and calm things down, Infiniti president Johan de Nysschen has released a memo explaining the reasoning. Put simply, he says they’ve run out of numbers – but he also goes on to confirm that the company is developing a hot version of the M-Ser... er... Q70.  Details are sparse, but we understand the new car will be powered by a ‘charged induction’ 3.0-litre V6 capable of 550hp. It’ll mean business, then, this new model – and it’ll have to, as it’ll be going toe-to-toe with more established rivals like the BMW M5 and Jaguar’s upcoming XFR-S. Infiniti can’t tell us whether the hot Q70 will make it to the UK yet, but if it does, it could bring some kudos to the much-maligned ‘Vettel Edition’ brand that’s hitherto been seen only on the FX50 (or QX70, as it’ll now be known... don’t ask). It’d also show that Infiniti’s a little more switched-on to its motorsport tie-ups than some other manufacturers (we’re looking at you, Citroen – nine WRC championships and only a tarted-up old-shape C4 to show for it? Go on, give us a mad, rally-inspired DS3. You know you want to...)

Etherea previews new Brit-built compact

Not content with stealing the hyper-saloon headlines, Infiniti has also announced that it’ll build its new compact model here in the UK, which, with our sensible news hat on, is good news for the economy. The new model will be based on the current Mercedes A-Class floorpan, which is not such good news for driving enthusiasts, but it will be available with a two-litre turbo, so there is at least some potential for quirky premium Japanese hot hatchery. Here’s hoping.

[burwoodman]

they'll sell about 3 of them-the buyers being very brave

[10 Pence Short]

550bhp from 3 litres? Really? Wouldn't have thought that would be too pleasant to drive in what's supposed to be an executive saloon.

[kambites]

PH said:

... The new model will be based on the current Mercedes A-Class floorpan, which is not such good news for driving enthusiasts,...

I thought the new A-class was meant to be rather good?

[Bladedancer]

burwoodman said:

they'll sell about 3 of them-the buyers being very brave

Brave? No, not really. Snob's won't buy it and that's why in UK they'll sell about 3 of them.
Rest of the world, however, is a whole different story.

[Scrof]

kambites said:

I thought the new A-class was meant to be rather good?

Well it's just my opinion, but I found it rather disappointing. Nowhere near enough sparkle from engine or steering, and rather pricey too. The chaps over at What Car? have given it two stars of five. All of which is a shame as I love the way it looks and really wanted to like it.

[kambites]

Fair enough.

[kambites]

Bladedancer said:

burwoodman said:

they'll sell about 3 of them-the buyers being very brave

Brave? No, not really. Snob's won't buy it and that's why in UK they'll sell about 3 of them.
Rest of the world, however, is a whole different story.

The US, in particular, seems to have far more tendency to buy cars based on how good they are rather than the badge on the nose.

[OllieC]

kambites said:

Bladedancer said:

burwoodman said:

they'll sell about 3 of them-the buyers being very brave

Brave? No, not really. Snob's won't buy it and that's why in UK they'll sell about 3 of them.
Rest of the world, however, is a whole different story.

The US, in particular, seems to have far more tendency to buy cars based on how good they are rather than the badge on the nose.

Which of course is why the Japanese brands have different names in the US

[kambites]

OllieC said:

Which of course is why the Japanese brands have different names in the US

I didn't say they were completely immune to it; just that they're far better than the British.

[OllieC]

kambites said:

OllieC said:

Which of course is why the Japanese brands have different names in the US

I didn't say they were completely immune to it; just that they're far better than the British.

I think you are right, but I couldn't resist sorry

[Ray Singh]

The 4x4 thing looks quite impossing and dare i say it - rather nice.

I pass the Infiniti dealer in Reading from time to time and the 4x4 is a change from the normal.

[interloper]

This is going to come across as shallow but having seen the current range (there's an Infinity dealer just across the road from were I work), I have yet to meet an Infinity that looks remotely attractive. Every model seems to have either weirdly melted looks or just bland.

Lets face it BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Jaguar have there ups and downs but between the three marques they still make a fair few attractive motors. Infinity do not.

For me this would be a fairly big selling point.

[hyperblue]

I saw an Infiniti M on the M40 earlier this week, the first time I've seen an Infiniti on UK roads. Absolutely hideous thing it was!

[Neil G60]

interest = 0

[gumsie]

interloper said:

This is going to come across as shallow but having seen the current range (there's an Infinity dealer just across the road from were I work), I have yet to meet an Infinity that looks remotely attractive. Every model seems to have either weirdly melted looks or just bland.

Lets face it BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Jaguar have there ups and downs but between the three marques they still make a fair few attractive motors. Infinity do not.

For me this would be a fairly big selling point.

Not so sure any more. I love german motors, all of them. Was in a Merc dealership the other day and the only two intersting models were the C and the CL and the S I suppose.
Audi the A6 only.
BMW just the 1 and the 7.

Dunno what's happened to em. By contrast the orientals, (Hope that doesn't sound derogatory as I don't mean it like that), have loads of lookers at all price points. With the exception of this Infiniti.

[kambites]

interloper said:

Lets face it BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Jaguar have there ups and downs but between the three marques they still make a fair few attractive motors.

They do? Not many spring to mind.

[hdrflow]

Ray Singh said:

I pass the Infiniti dealer in Reading from time to time and the 4x4 is a change from the normal.

And the used cars they have on sale too (Aston, GTR, Porsche). Interesting times for them.

[Amirhussain]

Neil G60 said:

interest = 0

Same, just not into infiniti

[burwoodman]

kambites said:

The US, in particular, seems to have far more tendency to buy cars based on how good they are rather than the badge on the nose.

How good they are? It won't be as good as either the jag, Merc, BMW. We know that already based all of their previous attempts. It will be cheaper but show it by using terrible plastics.

[Dagnut]

kambites said:

The US, in particular, seems to have far more tendency to buy cars based on how good they are rather than the badge on the nose.

Maybe, but I think there is a lot of trend buying in the states, as with anywhere. Infinity took off over there in in early noughties with the their funky SUVS...they were everywhere..not sure that makes them good cars but...Nissan get them in few episodes of cribs, couple of celebrity endorsements and their off.

Escalades and F150's also sold by the shed load..not sure how good either of them are but they fit certain demographics.
I'm not able to comment on how good Infinty SUVS are but they certainly seemed to be driven by all the young cool types when I was in South Beach in 2004...much like the mini here....how many cars are really bought on dynamics alone?