Infiniti Q50 thread
#1112
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I would hope they would be serious about bringing this car to market after all the hoopla surrounding it. Even when you go to the Infiniti website, it's the first thing you see. Not sure why they seem to be playing this game with the media about whether or not they will build it. Of course they're going to build it. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Although, they always seem to drag their feet between the time they show their concepts until they're actually available for sale. They need to bring this thing out within a year in my opinion, while this body style is still fresh. An early spring 2015 release as a 2016 model sounds about right to me.
#1113
My 2014 Q50 hybrid has a 3.5 so yes they do make one
Prior to Geneva I recall reading that Nissan was looking at using
MB sourced power for this car so a 3.5 would be possible
Then again the word from Geneva was use of the GTR mill
which is the 3.8
Prior to Geneva I recall reading that Nissan was looking at using
MB sourced power for this car so a 3.5 would be possible
Then again the word from Geneva was use of the GTR mill
which is the 3.8
#1114
Infiniti explored V8, diesel, hybrid power for Q50 Eau Rouge
Over the past few years, rumors have swirled about an Infiniti-badged, four-door version of the Nissan GT-R. Makes sense to us – Infiniti could certainly use a performance halo, and the seemingly forgotten IPL initiative hasn't exactly bore any interesting fruit. Enter the Q50 Eau Rouge, which recently debuted for a second time at the Geneva Motor Show packed with the 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged heart of Godzilla itself.
Infiniti first showed the Q50 Eau Rouge at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show in January, where it did not have an engine – literally. Nothing was housed beneath its striking red hood. Naturally, this puzzled us, especially considering Infiniti boss Johan de Nysschen's statement that he "insists" the car be put into production.
But as it turns out, the Q50 Eau Rouge wasn't necessarily destined to be the "Infiniti GT-R" we have been hearing about for so long. In fact, several options were explored before the final decision to use the Nissan supercar's engine was even made. So following the Eau Rouge's second coming in Geneva, we talked to Infiniti's senior communications manger, Kyle Bazemore, who shed some interesting light on what almost was.
Infiniti first showed the Q50 Eau Rouge at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show in January, where it did not have an engine – literally. Nothing was housed beneath its striking red hood. Naturally, this puzzled us, especially considering Infiniti boss Johan de Nysschen's statement that he "insists" the car be put into production.
But as it turns out, the Q50 Eau Rouge wasn't necessarily destined to be the "Infiniti GT-R" we have been hearing about for so long. In fact, several options were explored before the final decision to use the Nissan supercar's engine was even made. So following the Eau Rouge's second coming in Geneva, we talked to Infiniti's senior communications manger, Kyle Bazemore, who shed some interesting light on what almost was.
"We could have chosen other Infiniti engines – the 5.0- and 5.6-liter V8 engines for instance – or one from our Alliance partners," Bazemore told Autoblog. In fact, considering Infiniti parent company Renault-Nissan's partnership with Daimler, it stands to reason that even Mercedes-Benz (read: AMG) could have provided the beating heart for the Eau Rouge.
What's more, Infiniti actually explored alternative-fuel powertrains for use in the Eau Rouge. "Our engineering and product planning teams looked at other solutions, such as versions of our V6 engines, and we even looked at developing a high-power sports diesel, then we narrowed it down according to size, weight, packaging, flexibility and how the powertrain package could be 'Infinitized' for the Q50 experience," Bazemore said. "At one point, we looked at hybrid tuning, where the batteries, electric motor and charging equipment were all uprated to provide significant clean power in the form of an 'electric supercharger.'"
Even then, when the decision came to use the GT-R engine, it wasn't just a plug-and-play exercise.
"It's been mapped to feel like an Infiniti," Bazemore said, "which is to say it feels like a premium sedan engine should, has Infiniti air intakes and swirl pots, and is connected to an Infiniti seven-speed transmission."
Indeed, the version of the GT-R engine used in the Eau Rouge is said to produce 560 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque – a gain of 15 hp and a loss of 20 lb-ft versus the Nissan – though it uses the same all-wheel-drive system as the Japanese supercar. Bazemore sums it up, "After everything was considered, the GT-R engine – as a basis with modifications to make it appropriate for an Infiniti – was the clear solution for the Eau Rouge concept car. And ultimately, completely, amazingly fantastical."
What's more, Infiniti actually explored alternative-fuel powertrains for use in the Eau Rouge. "Our engineering and product planning teams looked at other solutions, such as versions of our V6 engines, and we even looked at developing a high-power sports diesel, then we narrowed it down according to size, weight, packaging, flexibility and how the powertrain package could be 'Infinitized' for the Q50 experience," Bazemore said. "At one point, we looked at hybrid tuning, where the batteries, electric motor and charging equipment were all uprated to provide significant clean power in the form of an 'electric supercharger.'"
Even then, when the decision came to use the GT-R engine, it wasn't just a plug-and-play exercise.
"It's been mapped to feel like an Infiniti," Bazemore said, "which is to say it feels like a premium sedan engine should, has Infiniti air intakes and swirl pots, and is connected to an Infiniti seven-speed transmission."
Indeed, the version of the GT-R engine used in the Eau Rouge is said to produce 560 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque – a gain of 15 hp and a loss of 20 lb-ft versus the Nissan – though it uses the same all-wheel-drive system as the Japanese supercar. Bazemore sums it up, "After everything was considered, the GT-R engine – as a basis with modifications to make it appropriate for an Infiniti – was the clear solution for the Eau Rouge concept car. And ultimately, completely, amazingly fantastical."
Right now, Bazemore tells Autoblog that the Eau Rouge, named after the famous corner at the Circuit de Spa, "provides a glimpse into our vision for high-performance vehicles. It takes the basic design features of the Q50 sports sedan, but combines it with the spirit of Formula One, in which Infiniti is (obviously) involved." In fact, several of the sedan's design elements – specifically the front wing, rear aero packaging and rear foglight – are said to mimic the Red Bull RB9 racecar.
It all looks ready to go, and despite de Nysschen's insistence that the car be green-lit, Bazemore insists that the concept "is just that, a concept for now."
Should the Q50 Eau Rouge get the production nod, pricing will be key. For the model to compete with sport sedans like the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG or BMW M3, it would likely need to carry a price tag under $75,000. And even if the Eau Rouge were to go up against heavyweights like the Mercedes E63 AMG or BMW M5, base pricing would realistically have to fall between $90,000 and $100,000. But consider that a brand-new 2015 GT-R starts at just under $102,000 – would it make sense for the four-door, presumably more luxurious (and functional) model to retail for less money?
It all looks ready to go, and despite de Nysschen's insistence that the car be green-lit, Bazemore insists that the concept "is just that, a concept for now."
Should the Q50 Eau Rouge get the production nod, pricing will be key. For the model to compete with sport sedans like the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG or BMW M3, it would likely need to carry a price tag under $75,000. And even if the Eau Rouge were to go up against heavyweights like the Mercedes E63 AMG or BMW M5, base pricing would realistically have to fall between $90,000 and $100,000. But consider that a brand-new 2015 GT-R starts at just under $102,000 – would it make sense for the four-door, presumably more luxurious (and functional) model to retail for less money?
#1115
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#1116
Problem with the Q50 just like the 2nd gen CTS is that it's close to being a straddler. Not compact but not midsize. Granted I could see in a few years the Q50 getting bigger, the Q70 possibly moving up a size (unless the rumored Q90 hits), and the Q40 (aka old G37) filling in for the compact size when it's redesign hits. Of course this is all IMO considering they use the standard template that most Luxury badges employ with small, medium and large.
#1117
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Problem with the Q50 just like the 2nd gen CTS is that it's close to being a straddler. Not compact but not midsize. Granted I could see in a few years the Q50 getting bigger, the Q70 possibly moving up a size (unless the rumored Q90 hits), and the Q40 (aka old G37) filling in for the compact size when it's redesign hits. Of course this is all IMO considering they use the standard template that most Luxury badges employ with small, medium and large.
#1118
I don't think the Q50 will be getting any bigger. The Q90 is definitely coming, most likely as a 2017 model sometime in 2016. Infiniti have confirmed this on a few occasions in the past several months. So it's doubtful the Q50 will be getting any bigger. However they have talked about bringing out another entry level FWD sedan (ala the I30/I35) and I'm wondering if the Q40 will eventually morph into that model after the 2015 model year. Would seem to make sense if you've been keeping up with all the reports coming from them in the past year or so.
#1119
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That's your opinion no different than mine. As you'll note I based my statement off if they used a template similar to Luxury badges, and typically (not always) redesigns grow in the slightest which makes my statement reasonable. That's not to say yours isn't correct either. The Q40 probably will morph into a new FWD model similar to how the G20 FWD went to the G35 RWD, but it seems for now they don't want to alienate former G buyers and continue to sell the rebadged G for now. Only time will tell.
#1120
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q50 is only 4 inches longer than the new IS
#1121
Lexus Champion
The new IS is 3.4 inches longer (now 183.7 inches long) than the previous model, and wheelbase is up 2.7 inches to 110.2". Height and width are up less than half an inch. Interior volume went up from 98.7 cubic feet to 101.0 cubic feet. Trunk capacity increased from 13.0 cubic feet to 13.8.
#1124
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Infiniti's GT-R Powered Q50 Eau Rouge Enters Prototype Testing Phase
Under the leadership of Carlos Ghosn, the Nissan Group has shown that it's not afraid to break with conventional wisdom and create products that can raise more than a few eyebrows – i.e. the GT-R Juke.
The Q50 Eau Rouge study is also one of those vehicles, and it looks like it may very well be heading towards production, especially after an announcement today, that it has asked four-time F1 world champion and Infiniti brand Director of Performance Sebastian Vettel to begin testing a prototype version of the car.
At the recent Geneva Motor Show, Infiniti confirmed the Q50 Eau Rouge study's Nissan GT-R-sourced twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 with 568PS (560hp) and 600Nm (592 lb-ft) paired to a full-time, all-wheel drive system with 50/50 front-to-rear torque split and a 7-speed transmission.
Infiniti said that Vettel put the sports sedan through its paces at the Millbrook Proving Ground automotive testing facility in the UK, to evaluate the car's "performance, handling and precision driving".
"Vettel's invaluable feedback will be engineered into the next stages of the prototype's extensive development program – testing components, packaging and viability," said Infiniti, which has not yet reached a final decision on production.
The Japanese carmaker added that it will release further information regarding the Q50 Eau Rouge running prototype on the press day of the 2014 Beijing Auto Show on April 20.
The Q50 Eau Rouge study is also one of those vehicles, and it looks like it may very well be heading towards production, especially after an announcement today, that it has asked four-time F1 world champion and Infiniti brand Director of Performance Sebastian Vettel to begin testing a prototype version of the car.
At the recent Geneva Motor Show, Infiniti confirmed the Q50 Eau Rouge study's Nissan GT-R-sourced twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 with 568PS (560hp) and 600Nm (592 lb-ft) paired to a full-time, all-wheel drive system with 50/50 front-to-rear torque split and a 7-speed transmission.
Infiniti said that Vettel put the sports sedan through its paces at the Millbrook Proving Ground automotive testing facility in the UK, to evaluate the car's "performance, handling and precision driving".
"Vettel's invaluable feedback will be engineered into the next stages of the prototype's extensive development program – testing components, packaging and viability," said Infiniti, which has not yet reached a final decision on production.
The Japanese carmaker added that it will release further information regarding the Q50 Eau Rouge running prototype on the press day of the 2014 Beijing Auto Show on April 20.