Infiniti QX Reviews

The once non-existent world of luxury four door coupes looks set to add yet another new entry, with Infiniti reportedly working on a new range-topping model to launch into a field already heavily populated by prestige brands.  Speaking with industry journal Automotive News, Nissan's future product boss Andy Palmer confirmed that the brand is planning a new flagship model, which won’t be a conventional large luxury sedan like the previous Q45 models.  "We won't do a Merc S class or that type of car," Palmer said. "We have had that before. We want a flagship car that's appealing and different." Sources suggest the model will build on the sleek profile of the 2009 Essence concept, with rear doors added to create a model akin to the Porsche Panamera. The model would likely be based on a Mercedes Benz platform as part of Infiniti’s technology tie-up with the German brand, and sit above Infiniti’s range of luxury sedan, coupe, and SUV models. Palmer confirmed that the model is yet to be signed off however. "The sales of (sedans) like the Q50 and SUVs like the QX60 will have to be going well and then I can go to our approval committee." As such, the new model is not likely to appear before 2017, but could become an ideal hero for Infiniti’s plan to become a major global player in the luxury market before 2020. This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn    

In the world of slow-starters, Infiniti has been the standard bearer.

Infiniti is working on a new hatch to take on rivals in the burgeoning compact luxury segment, such as the Audi A3, BMW 1-Series, Lexus CT 200h and new Mercedes-Benz CLA.We were given our first taste of the car with the unveiling of the slightly odd Etherea back in 2011, but now we have a more definitive look thanks to reveal of the new Q30 concept car.Though its shape resembles that of a hatch, Infiniti is keen to stress that the Q30 is not a hatch. Rather, it’s a fusion of various bodystyles that includes elements of not only a hatch but also a coupe and a crossover, the automaker tells us.By combining the sportiness of a coupe, the roominess of a hatch and the higher stance of a crossover, Infiniti is hoping its Q30 will be able to stand out from the crowd.To further differentiate its Q30 from rival compact offerings, Infiniti will call on its official director of performance, reigning Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel, to help develop the chassis.However, much of the development work is already done, as the Q30 shares the MFA front-wheel-drive platform found in Mercedes-Benz’s latest compact range.Inside the Q30, there’s a sporty flat-bottomed steering wheel, bright digital gauges with purple backlighting, copper-accented dials including a centre console-mounted control wheel, accented stitching and soft leather on most of the surfaces.The Q30 makes its world debut tomorrow at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show and will spawn a production version due for launch sometime in 2015. Production will take place initially at Nissan’s Sunderland plant in the U.K. but will eventually be expanded to Mexico for delivery to the North American market. Shortly after the Q30 is launched, we may see a crossover version, which is likely to be called a QX30 in accordance with Infiniti’s new naming strategy.www.motorauthority.com 

The Infiniti Q50 will launch in January with expected V6 petrol hybrid and 2.1-litre turbodiesel engines as Infiniti looks to step up its attack on the Australian prestige market. Infiniti general manager Kevin Snell won’t officially comment on the Q50 drivetrains but the UK arm of Nissan’s premium arm has already gone on sale with the above engines. Internet rumours suggest a four-cylinder turbo petrol is also well advanced. The hybrid is an in-house design that’s used in the line-up already on sale in Australia. The turbodiesel is sourced from Mercedes-Benz and cranks out 125kW/400Nm in UK guise. Infiniti has just cut prices on its existing models by an average of $10,000, reflecting modest sales and the fact the Australian outfit was forced to launch with models in the middle of their life-cycle Snell says existing Infiniti owners -- and there are 200 year-to-date -- will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis to ensure they’re not disadvantaged by the price cut. “When we launched the brand we aimed to build identity and deliver a customer experience that no other prestige carmaker could offer,” Snell says. “That customer experience extends to the price adjustments. Our dealers have a unique relationship with their clients and we will deal with them accordingly. We intentionally started small (with just three dealers -- in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne) and now we’re stepping up to phase two.  That starts with the Q50, which will be on sale in January and will roll out from there. Part of that strategy is the appointment of a new national sales manager in Andrei Zaitzev. “We’ve had a long-burn program - the business plan rolls out until 2020 - and there are now a significant number of new models in the pipeline that let us open the next wave of dealerships and progressively expand the models,” Snell says. “We’ll leverage the four-cylinder turbo powertrains - they’re the future - and our relationship with Red Bull Racing in F1 to continue building brand identity.” Snell affirms the signing of Daniel Ricciardo to Red Bull will help the Australian arm by giving it a high-profile local ambassador to reinforce Infiniti’s performance credentials.  

Infiniti is working on a new hatch to take on rivals in the burgeoning compact luxury segment, such as the Audi A3, BMW 1-Series, Lexus CT 200h and new Mercedes-Benz CLA. We were given our first taste of the car with the unveiling of the slightly odd Etherea back in 2011, but now we have a more definitive look thanks to reveal of the new Q30 concept car.Though its shape resembles that of a hatch, Infiniti is keen to stress that the Q30 is not a hatch. Rather, it’s a fusion of various body styles that includes elements of not only a hatch but also a coupe and a crossover, the automaker tells us. By combining the sportiness of a coupe, the roominess of a hatch and the higher stance of a crossover, Infiniti is hoping its Q30 will be able to stand out from the crowd.To further differentiate its Q30 from rival compact offerings, Infiniti will call on its official director of performance, reigning Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel, to help develop the chassis. However, much of the development work is already done, as the Q30 shares the MFA front-wheel-drive platform found in Mercedes-Benz’s compact range.The Q30 makes its world debut on September 10 at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show and will spawn a production version due for launch sometime in 2015. Production will take place initially at Nissan’s Sunderland plant in the U.K. but will eventually be expanded to Mexico for delivery to the North American market. Shortly after the Q30 is launched, we may see a crossover version, which is likely to be called a QX30 in accordance with Infiniti’s new naming strategy.www.motorauthority.com 

We’ve seen what Red Bull F1 racer Sebastien Vettel can do on the track, and we’ll soon see what he can do in the design studio when Infiniti unveils the Q30 Concept at Frankfurt motor show in September.The next development of Infiniti’s Etherea concept, the Q30 Concept will lead to a compact car that will be the first model influenced from the start by Vettel in his new role as Infiniti’s Director of Performance.The vehicle will face off in the premium compact segment against the likes of the BMW 1-Series, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Audi A3. However, Infiniti has already indicated that the Q30 would feature a new three-way adjustable ride height system, suggesting that we could see it in crossover form or spawning a separate crossover version.That possibility is reinforced by it being based on the platform underpinning the Mercedes-Benz CLA Class -- which will have its own crossover version in the form of the GLA Class.That would be positioned as a rival against the GLA, BMW X1 and Q3, among others in the premium end of the growing crossover field. Infiniti for now says only that the Q30 Concept “signals the contemporary design vision for a compact Infiniti vehicle which will target a new generation of premium customers” and will spearhead the brand’s growth plan.“This Infiniti Q30 Concept is a prelude to the product portfolio expansion which underpins our aggressive global growth strategy,” Infiniti global president Johan de Nysschen said in the press statement.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Infiniti? They're made by Nissan aren't they? It's the first thing people ask when see the car. The answer is yes, they are the Nissan equivalent of Toyota's Lexus luxury brand. They've been doing business for many years now, but have only just started selling cars here in Australia (after years talking about it).VALUEPriced from $85,900, $97,900 for the better equipped S Premium, the M is one of Infiniti's core models. It's a large rear-wheel drive luxury sedan that comes in petrol, diesel and hybrid petrol-electric versions.Standard kit includes leather and climate air, auto lights and wipers, active cruise control, power adjust steering, bi-xenon lights that turn, Bluetooth with audio streaming, satellite navigation and a 6-speaker premium sound system.The S Premium package adds 4-wheel Active Steer (4WAS), sport-tuned suspension, sport brakes and larger, 20-inch alloy wheels, not to mention a hi-end Bose audio system.TECHNOLOGYThe 3.7 litre produces 235kW of power and 360Nm of torque. The engine is hooked up to a seven-speed auto that adapts to the driver's style of driving, as well as including a manual mode with shift paddles. Drive is to the rear wheels and it does the dash from 0-100km/h in 6.2 seconds with a top speed of 250km/h.Fuel consumption is rated at 10.2 litres/100km and it takes Premium unleaded (we were getting 11.2). DESIGN Infiniti bills itself as luxury brand but with an emphasis on performance, that is as a driver's car. The car goes well enough but lacks the opulent feel of other luxury brands, even though the expected leather and wood are present. Some may see this as a plus, others may not... By the way the paint is self-healing in case it is scratched.SAFETYGets a full five stars for safety. It's equipped with a number of advanced safety features including Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) and the Premium adds Blind Spot Warning (BSW) and Blind Spot Intervention (BSI).Other available safety features include Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Front Pre-Crash Seat Belts.DRIVINGWe drove the hybrid recently and while it was good, the V6 does an admirable job by itself without the support of an electric motor. Mind you, it's the larger 3.7-litre six, not the 3.5. With sport mode selected the drive experience is fairly aggressive.The rear becomes a bit skittish in damp conditions, but the electronics are there to catch it if things get out of hand. Four-mode drive control adjusts throttle and transmission mapping, as well as 4-Wheel Active Steer settings, Dynamic Cornering Enhancement and Eco Pedal (where available).Infiniti makes a big deal about the active noise cancellation system (like they use in headphones), but it doesn't sound any quieter inside to us. The seats are heated and cooled and the `intelligent' key remembers last used audio, navigation and climate settings, as well as linking to seat, steering wheel and side view mirror positions through the dual occupant memory system.VERDICTIt grows on you. The look is understated and we loved the grey, almost white paint job. Feels nothing like a Lexus, but it's nowhere near as quiet inside as a Lexus either.Infiniti M37 S PremiumPrice: from $97,900Engine: 3.7-litre 6-cylinder, 235 kW/ 360 NmTransmission: seven-speed sports automatic transmission, RWDThirst: 10.2 L/100km, 235 g/km CO2

‘Fly by wire’ allows for the replacement of mechanical linkages between the aircrafts flight deck (cockpit in the old language) and the planes control surfaces (such as the rudder and ailerons) with wires that carry the pilot’s commands electronically. Now that same principle is being used by Infiniti to link the steering wheel and the front wheels of their new Q50 model. The ‘Steer by wire’ system, called ‘Direct Adaptive Steering’, works by electronically transferring the driver's input to the front wheels where a high-response actuator drives the steering rack. Infiniti says by eliminating the mechanical losses that can dull the responses in conventional systems, steering response is faster and vibration at the steering wheel is eliminated. Drivers can even tailor steering weight and response settings to their own liking. Infiniti has reassured buyers that the technology does benefit from several back-up systems, including a conventional mechanical steering linkage, should something go wrong. But the Japanese brand believes the system is safe and has carried out extensive on-road testing to prove it. They even allowed Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel (Infiniti's Director of Performance) to put it to the test on Infiniti’s testing track. The Q50 is likely to start arriving here around November, with a starting price below $60,000. It is powered by a range of engines from a turbocharged four provided by Daimler, and will sidestep its German rivals with a solid emphasis on driving enjoyment. The official introduction of the Q50 comes as Infiniti confirms plans for a major model expansion at both the top and bottom ends of luxury motoring, with a Q70 flagship and a baby model to compete with the Benz A-Class. “The Q50 is coming, absolutely. It's here in quarter four,” Infiniti Cars Australia's spokesman, Peter Fadeyev, told Carsguide in May. “It will be our fifth model. And it will be our largest selling model. This will be competing in the most important sector of the Australian luxury car market.” He refuses to even hint on the price points or engines for the Q50 but we're likely to see a range of engines from turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and diesel motors through a 3.7-litre V6 to a hybrid package. Direct Adaptive Steering will be offered as standard on the Infiniti Q50 hybrid later in the year (a model we don’t get in Australia). It’s exciting technology (so long as those back-up systems are reliable) that we will most likely see across many more models in coming years. Joel Helmes is the editor of the Behind the Wheel radio program, heard on more than 150 stations around Australia, and www.behindthewheel.com.au  

The sport and luxury division of Nissan has so far faced a tough battle winning over buyers from long-established brands including Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. But new boss Fintan Knight thinks a halo model and technology may be future keys to success.Knight began his career in the automotive industry with BMW in Australia 20 years ago before holding senior marketing and management positions with Lamborghini and Audi in Europe.Appointed to the top job at Infiniti just a matter of weeks ago, he’s told AOL Cars that he believes the brand is lacking a break-out model. "I think we need something aspirational at the top of the range," he says.And Knight sees an opportunity to win over buyers with technology, saying he believes the German manufacturers aren’t giving the ‘iPhone generation’ what they want. Germans get in their cars and treat them as transport. They need to be functional in their eyes.They don't use email, Twitter or iPhones. That's why they never really work for buyers who want that. Our cars have to interface with drivers. They should take over for you in certain areas."Knight also believes the brand needs to expand its current six model line-up to include a small car to compete with the Audi A3 and the Volkswagen Golf. "I don't think we'll challenge them in terms of volumes but it needs to be an alternative premium offering for buyers."And when quizzed on his opinion of arch-rivals Lexus – "I am not convinced that they have the right plan.” He said.Joel Helmes is the editor of the Behind the Wheel radio program, heard on more than 150 stations around Australia, and www.behindthewheel.com.au.

Here's the thing…Why would you buy one of these cars when you could have a Nissan 370Z for less? They're essentially the same car under the skin with the same 3.7-litre V6 providing the oomph, but the Zed gets a bit more power.There's no denying the desirability of the iconic Zed, now in its second generation but the Infiniti is still something of an unknown quantity (at least with this badge).VALUEPriced from $75,900 (or $83,500 for the better equipped G37 S Premium model that we drove), the coupe is a nice bit of gear. The interior is finished in full leather and it is better equipped than the Zed, but not by much.One major point of difference between the two cars is that G37 actually has a back seat, albeit a small one. There's not much legroom nor much headroom back there, but it will do at a pinch.Standard features include leather, climate air, push button start, swivel bi-xenons, 30Gb navi system, 7-inch touch screen and 11-speaker Bose sound system with 10Gb hard drive. The S adds sport seats, sports suspension, 4-wheel active steer, viscous limited-slip diff and opposed-piston sports brakes, along with larger 19-inch alloys.It all sounds pretty good but bear in mind that you can pick up an imported, late model Skyline coupe with just about delivery kilometres for half the cost.TECHNOLOGYIt has two doors and a boot whereas the two-seat Zed has two doors and a hatch. The G37 actually sits on a 30cm longer wheelbase, but it's track is slightly narrower front and rear. The 3.7 litre petrol V6 produces 235kW of power at 7000 revs and 360Nm of torque at 5200 revs, compared with the Zed's 245kW/363Nm and is paired with a seven-speed auto, with drive to rear wheels.There's sport mode and downshift rev matching, along with steering column mounted change paddles. The dash from 0-100km/h takes 5.9 seconds, compared with the Zed's unofficial 5.4 seconds (it's over 200kg lighter). Fuel consumption for the coupe is rated at 10.5 litres/100km (we were getting 13.6 litres/100km after about 400km).DESIGNThe G37's look is fairly staid compared with the bright colours and lightning bolt design of the Zed's lights. As a technology and performance wannabe, Infiniti would do well to consider more aggressive styling, something spectacularly different that would really get people to sit up and take notice. Just a thought.SAFETYNo problems here. Gets a full five stars for safety in crash tests. There's six airbags along with active front headrests, plus a full gamut of safety systems including electronic stability and traction control.DRIVINGIf you like the Zed, then naturally you're going to like the G37. The V6 is a fantastic engine and delivers the urgent response that's expected from a sports car, making all the right noises in the process.The steering is direct and incredibly responsive, guaranteeing the car will go where you point it.  At the same time the tyres tracked mercilessly on Sydney's streets following every irregularity. The big problem is it looks too much like one of the grey import Skylines that the teenagers all drive. Don't know about you but if I paid big money for a car, I'd want people to know that I was driving the real deal.VERDICTSorry. Like the car but we like the look of the Zed better.Infiniti G37 SPrice: from $83,500Warranty: 4 years roadside assistEngine: 3.7-litre 6-cylinder, 235kW/360NmTransmission: 7-speed auto, RWDThirst: 10.5L/100Km, CO2 246g/km