New car on show: Q50
Q50
The new Infiniti Q50 comes ‘with all the prerequisites needed to build a strong new level of customer engagement across Europe in the premium class”.
More importantly, it marks the start of a new-generation of Infiniti Q models, and is the first product of a co-operation agreement with Daimler AG.
Essentially, it’s a sporty saloon with a Merc engine in it. It made its public debut at Detroit and the luxury Japanese car maker says it also heralds a new design direction for the Infiniti range – all of which in future will bear a Q for saloons and coupes or QX badge for crossovers and SUVs.
Most importantly for the UK is that the Q50 will come with a 2.2-litre diesel engine with a claimed CO2 emissions starting from 115g/km.
That’s good news for company car drivers’ tax bills and with 168bhp and a muscular 400Nm of pulling power it should prove decently quick.There will also be the option of a 3.5-litre hybrid with 359bhp.
The Q50 also features the world’s first Direct Adaptive Steering technology. God knows what that is in terms of technology, but it should make the steering more responsive.
Also on the Infiniti stand will be the LE Concept, Infiniti’s first 100% electric car, and triple World Champion Sebastian Vettel’s Formula One car in its 2013 livery.
