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Infiniti previews modified Q50 Red Sport 400 for SEMA

Infiniti sports sedans are having a bit of a renaissance these days thanks the dirt cheap prices of high mileage G35s and G37s. As such, it's a good a time as any for Infiniti to introduce an aspirational vehicle in the same lineage: a Q50 Red Sport 400 built for the 2023 SEMA Show. The Q50 is probably not a car you've given much thought about in recent years, as it's been hanging around largely unchanged since its introduction in 2014. Infiniti hasn't had a presence at SEMA for most of that time either. This year, the luxury brand has cooked up a Q50 Red Sport 400 loaded with aftermarket accessories for the Vegas extravaganza. The car was built to showcase products from the Infiniti Performance line accessories, which includes suspension bits like upper control arms, rear traction rods, endlinks and more. There's also performance brake pads and a cat-back exhaust with the Infiniti logo etched into the tip. The Q50 show car also adds more coolant into the cooling system with a thicker radiator, a billet-aluminum expansion tank and an auxiliary intercooler tank. Naturally, there's a cold-air intake too. The build was done in part with Mobil 1, who has filled the 400-horsepower twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 with 0w-20 synthetic.  The most desirable parts of all might be the four lightweight Nismo LM-RS1 wheels. Measuring 19 inches in diameter and 9.5 inches in width, they are available in black, gray, or bronze. The purpose of all this, Infiniti says, is to let owners of the Q50 and Q60 (and older G37s and G35s) know that the company offers a line of parts for customization. It's not the first time Infiniti has tried something like this. Anyone remember the short-lived Infiniti Performance Line (IPL) from 2010? Infiniti's commitment to performance has always seemed half-hearted. Maybe this time it'll stick around for a bit longer.

Infiniti Q60 dies at year's end

In 2021, Automotive News' Future Product Pipeline coverage for the Infiniti brand contained a single entry for 2023: "Infiniti Q60 ends in 2023." Turns out the report of the Q60's death was true; the brand confirmed to Car and Driver that the coupe ends production at the end of this year. We wish we were surprised at the news or the rationale. An automaker spokesperson told the magazine, "We are focusing on the most popular luxury automotive segments such as crossovers and SUVs, as well as the upcoming EV we recently announced that will be built here in the U.S." The official justification didn't address the fact that dealers sold 2,728 units of the Q60 in the U.S. last year, 64 units fewer than achieved in 2020, and 2,315 units fewer than dealers moved in 2019 — the year Q60 sales fell off a cliff after selling more than 9,000 units in 2018. Consider this another step in the "three-phase company transformation" that Chairman Peyman Kargar is in the second stage of working through. The first phase of recovery ended this March, the luxury automaker getting back to profit globally. The current second stage that will revamp, electrify, and expand the lineup is predicted to last for the next four years. The spearhead will be the new QX80 SUV, planned for late next year or early 2024 with ambitions to challenge the Cadillac Escalade, Lexus LX, and Range Rover. That luxury club barred Infiniti from entry awhile ago, so Kargar's talking about profound turnaround. As for the Q60, the shame is that a car with sweet looks and even sweeter power never got the interior or driving dynamics to match. Perhaps the return of a much better Nissan Z can provide fodder for a proper Infiniti coupe once the luxury division has restored its momentum. The spokesperson told Car and Driver that Q60 inventory should last until well into 2023, so anyone looking for a 400-horsepower bargain with a six-speed manual should mark their calendar for early next spring.   Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

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.