2005 Fx45 - Loaded Nav, Sun Roof, 20's, Rear Camera, Coil Over Kit, Heated Seats on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Infiniti EV delayed to add better tech

An evolution in lithium-ion batteries and "interesting advances in electric technology" are said to be responsible for the delay of Infiniti's electric car, the production version of the LE concept first shown at the New York Auto Show in 2012. At the time of its introduction, Infiniti said we'd have a version we could buy within two years; that timeline became 2015, and now Automotive News Europe reports that it's"still within in our mid-term plan" but officials aren't saying how long the delay will be.
When shown, the LE had a 24kWh lithium-ion battery and a 100kw electric motor producing 134 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque, a 100-mile range and the potential for wireless charging. It isn't clear if the postponement will bring improved specs or perhaps improved packaging and technology - or both. All we have for now is that the new timeframe is "not significantly" beyond the original plan.

Infiniti QX30 Concept is ready to join the compact crossover fray

Today, the compact crossover market is an automotive Klondike. Automakers are scrambling to stake their claim on an increasingly segmented, increasingly valuable landscape. That's especially true in the premium market, where every Audi Q3, BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Lexus NX and Buick Encore sold takes up a piece of market share that requires a great deal of effort for another automaker, in this case Infiniti, to reclaim. That makes the new QX30 Concept, debuting this week at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, an extremely important vehicle for the Nissan-owned brand. The QX30 Concept has already been "earmarked for production" and will be launched next year, according to Infiniti. When that happens, we'll see a compact CUV with toned down styling from the vehicle shown here, much like the upcoming Q30 production model. It's fair to say the looks of the QX30 are in direct opposition to those of the aforementioned Lexus NX. Where that car is sharp and angular, Infiniti's designers emphasized the "spontaneous and fluid" look of the new concept. Infiniti's most recent, Q50-inspired design language works nicely in a compact CUV form factor. The double-arch grille and its flanking headlights give the QX30 a refined, almost predatory look. That, as it turns out, is intentional. "The Q30 Concept was like a panther, lithe and slender. We transformed the QX30 Concept into a mountain lion, strong and muscular," Infiniti's Executive Design Director Alfonso Albaisa said in a statement. The strong, wavy character lines in the profile lead into the short, chopped rear overhangs. Above the beltline, the rear window is raked forward aggressively, lending the QX30 a coupe-like profile. In the cabin, we can already see the makings of a production car's interior, with two strong material choices – dark brown and blue leather – highlighting the dash. On the concept, purple accent lighting is emitted from the center stack's controls, while the violet shade carries over into what looks like a digital instrument cluster and the speaker surrounds in the doors. Sections of quilted leather on the seats, meanwhile, look very nice, but we doubt they will make it to production on what is ultimately going to be a reasonably priced vehicle.

Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Concept bows again, now with more GT-R [w/video]

Think back to the 2014 Detroit Auto Show and you'll remember the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge concept - a sedan that showed the potential design direction for a seriously high-performance take on the Japanese automaker's new entry-level luxury sedan. And while the show car we saw in Detroit was all well and good, it lacked something. Specifically, an engine. Kind of an important thing for a performance concept, right?
Here in Geneva, Infiniti rolled out that same Q50 Eau Rouge, but with one major modification: the sedan now boasts a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 under its hood - the same engine that's found in the Nissan GT-R supercar. In the Eau Rouge, this V6 is tuned to produce 560 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, sent to the ground via the GT-R's all-wheel-drive system. Of course, this super-hot Q50 is still purely a concept, but Infiniti says that the potent engine underhood will allow the sedan to sprint to 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds, on its way to a top speed of over 180 mph.
The oft-fabled "four-door GT-R" still isn't confirmed for production, so for now, all we can do is cross our fingers (and toes). Check out the Q50 and its new beating heart in the gallery, above, and scroll below to hear what that potent Eau Rouge sounds like.