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Infiniti Q60 Concept previews sexy styling, twin-turbo V6

Okay Infiniti, this was worth the waiting and teasing. Behold, the Q60 Concept, the coupe that foreshadows a future production two-door while also introducing a new family of 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 engines. It's fair to say we like it very much. Of course, this is not our first unfettered look at the Q60 Concept. Infiniti's final "teaser" image showed off the final product, but now we can analyze it from all angles, including the lovely, almost S-Class Coupe-like rear end and the clean, fashionable cabin. The Q60 Concept's design, particularly in the swoopy profile, comes across as organic and muscular, particularly in the shape of the front fenders and rear haunches. The car's dead front view reveals a few styling details that were overshadowed by the angle of the teaser image, like the interesting ridge that runs from the grille into the powerfully domed hood. A fixed glass roof gives the cabin an open-air feel, while the overall layout is largely reminiscent of the current Q50 sedan, only with cleaner, updated materials that we wouldn't bet on making production. Thin sport seats look supporting and feature quilted leather bolsters, while a two-tone steering wheel spices up the driving environment. Under the Q60 Concept's hood is the same 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 that was first shown on the Q80 Inspiration Concept from the 2014 Paris Motor Show. According to Infiniti, the direct-injected six-pot will arrive in a production car within the next two years. In the Q60, a seven-speed automatic handles power delivery, although it's unclear if a similar gearbox would be used alongside the production engine. Other notable features on this sleek two-door include Infiniti's Direct Adaptive Steering system and the new InTuition system, which promises a "fully customizable digital environment." Of course, we'll have much, much more on the Q60 Concept tomorrow, when it makes it arrives on the floor of the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Scroll down for the full press release from Infiniti. January 11, 2015 Infiniti Q60 Concept: Fusing exhilaration and power - Infiniti's precursor to a high-performance sports coupe - Unique proposition of striking styling and high-output powertrain in a premium package - Previews new family of powerful and efficient engines Hong Kong/Detroit – Infiniti has set out to captivate the imagination and exhilaration of sports coupe fans with the stunning Q60 Concept.

Assessing Sebastian Vettel's first 100 days as Infiniti's director of performance

Whenever a new US president is elected, we know to expect a performance review as soon as he (or she) has spent 100 days in office. Sebastian Vettel, arguably given a job that is more important to Infiniti than the US president, has been the brand's director of performance for one hundred revolutions of The Blue Marble, and Infiniti has put together a videographic glimpse of his work at Paul Ricard, in the US and England.
We probably won't really get a grip on the full results of his efforts for a while - we doubt that he's been in his post long enough to significantly alter the trajectory of the Q50 sedan, for instance. But then again, Infiniti insists he's been integral to the car's dynamics development regime, suggesting he's been working as a test driver for some time before these 100 days. Of course, Vettel is a race car driver and brand ambassador first and foremost, but when he tells a Q50 engineer that "For the future, I think it's more comfortable to have the shift paddles on the steering wheel," we get the sense that he won't hesitate to suggest changes in forthcoming products. Check out more of his inputs in the video below as well as a press release detailing his visit to the tech center in Cranfield, UK.

Hyundai, Genesis, Subaru warn their dealers about markups

Six weeks ago, word got out that Ford's VP of sales for the U.S. and Canada wrote one of those "It has come to our attention..." e-mails to the automaker's dealer body. The VP's problem was dealers trying to get reservation deposits for the Ford F-150 Lightning well above the official $100 fee. The tomfoolery resulted in interactions "with customers in a manner that is negatively impacting customer satisfaction and damaging to the Ford Motor Company brand and Dealer Body reputation." Two weeks later, GM told its dealers to cut out the reservation gaming and the markups on the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, banditry that's been going on for two years. Two weeks ago, Ford was back at it, this time about markups on the Bronco. Last week, Asian automakers swept into the melee, with Hyundai and Genesis, Subaru, and Infiniti writing letters to their dealers to deliver some variant of, "Stop pissing off the customers." Automotive News reported an SVP at Hyundai Motor America and the COO at Genesis Motor North America sent letters to their dealers expressing disappointment at "certain pricing practices which, if left unchecked, will have a negative impact on the health of our brand." One of the practices mentioned was dealer markups, another was the bait-and-switch, with dealers advertising one price then charging a higher price once the customer showed up at the lot. The letters acknowledged that dealers are separate companies to the automakers and have the right to set their own prices. The automakers cannot interfere with that; their leverage is distributing allocations and perks such as advertising support and financial incentives. So, like a movie boss letting the protagonist go on a technicality, the brands wrote, "we cannot stand idly by watching the actions of the aforementioned dealers undo all the efforts we collectively have put into making these brands what they are today." Jalopnik got tipped to a letter Subaru of America CEO Thomas Doll sent to that brand's dealers. Doll's polite yet insistent tone was the result of a letter a loyal Subaru owner sent to the automaker's VP of Customer Advocacy. In the market for a third brand-new Forester, the owner said they encountered a "tax" labeled a "Low Inventory Surcharge" of as much as $6,000, putting the Forester out of reach.