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The Nissan Patrol may become America's next Armada

Plausible rumors are swirling that the Nissan Patrol, the Land Cruiser rival sold outside of North America, might come to the US as a replacement for the unrelated Nissan Armada. That large SUV's future was left ambiguous after the news of the Xterra's discontinuation, as Nissan's press release ominously promised information on the Armada "at a later date" without further elaboration. That left us scratching our heads and thinking that, perhaps, it would be quietly killed off in the future. If the rumors are true, it will be. And then it will be reborn. It'll join its old platform-mate, the Infiniti QX80, on the Patrol platform. The QX abandoned its Titan-based platform in 2011, becoming the Patrol-based QX80. So you can think of the Armada as catching up, a few years late. The QX80 was refreshed last year, a mainly cosmetic nip-and-tuck. The Infiniti utilizes the 5.6-liter, 400-hp V8 and a 7-speed auto, so it's a safe bet that this powertrain will make it into the Armada version. Less likely, but plausible, would be the availability of the new powertrains intended for the Titan XD and upcoming lower-grade Titans. The massive SUV market tends to be a bit conservative, so the Cummins diesel V8 that's the sole engine in the Titan XD right now seems unlikely. The forums are abuzz with a photo of what's purported to be a leaked marketing image of the new Armada, so head to this TitanXDForum thread if you'd like to see what that's about. (Spoiler: it looks a lot like the Patrol above, minus some of the Nismo flair.) Related Video:

Infiniti Q30 is the company's first small hatchback

Well, here it is. Despite every attempt to show us the car via teasers, Infiniti has made it to the week of the Frankfurt Motor Show before introducing the all-new Q30, the company's version of the jointly developed Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatchback and the first compact from the Nissan-owned luxury marque. The Q30 will be available with a wide and varied array of gas and diesel powertrains for its appearances in other markets. There will be two 1.6-liter gas engines, in 120-horsepower and 154-hp varieties, and two diesels. The oil-burners, which will not be coming to the US, displace 1.5 liters and 2.2 liters, respectively. As for North America, the Q30 will follow in the footsteps of its Mercedes cousins, the CLA- and GLA-Class, and offer a single 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder with 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Although it displaces just as much as the CLA's 2.0-liter turbo and matches that car's output, enthusiasts will appreciate the six-speed manual transmission being offered alongside the Mercedes seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic. Say what you will about its Mercedes roots, but Infiniti's decision to offer a six-speed stick here in the US should be respected. The specific set of drive wheels isn't mentioned, although if the A-, CLA-, and GLA-Class are any indication, the Q30 will offer standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. That's speculation on our part, but it's a logical assumption. The Q30 has retained the A-Class' front McPherson struts and rear multi-link suspension arrangement. But while it uses an identical design, Infiniti has tuned the shocks to its own specification. Depending on trim, the Q30 will ride on either 18- or 19-inch wheels. Speaking of those trims, there are three of them. The base trim is, um, basic – Infiniti spilled very little ink on the entry level model. In fact, aside from a few simple descriptions, equipment details on the other two trims are quite scarce. Choosing the Premium line will net you unique 18-inch wheels, LED fog lamps, heated door mirrors with body color housings, and twin chrome exhausts. The Sport brings a bit more to the table, making a functional change by lowering the ride height by 0.6 inches and fitting 19-inch alloys. Gloss black and dark chrome accents on the more aggressive front and rear fascias round out the exterior enhancements.

Infiniti extends long-wheelbase Q50 L for the Chinese market

Want to sell your luxury sedan in China? You're going to need a long-wheelbase model. Not because the still-dominant Chinese government mandates it, or because the customers are taller, but because Chinese buyers tend to like being chauffeured around in the back of their luxury sedans instead of driving themselves, so the priority is on rear-seat space over driving dynamics.
We've seen the likes of Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo all roll out long-wheelbase versions of their compact and midsize sedans specifically to cater to Chinese tastes. Even Infiniti - which now bases itself in Hong Kong - offers a long-wheelbase Q70 L not only in China but around the world, and has now bolstered its extended offerings with the reveal of the Q50 L, set to debut at the Chengdu Motor Show later this month.
Set to be produced locally for the local market, the Q50 L adds nearly two inches to the wheelbase of the Q50 to the benefit of rear-seat legroom. Power comes from Infiniti's 2.0-liter turbo four offering 208 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, driving to the rear wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission with drive-by-wire steering.