1994 Infiniti J30 T Sedan 4-door 3.0l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

These are the top luxury cars bought by people entering the segment for the first time

Let's say you just got a big promotion at work or the kids are moving out of the house, and you finally have some extra money. You decide to blow it all at once and treat yourself by upgrading your ride. Naturally, you look to a luxury automaker. What do you choose?
Models like the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class may be tailor-made to introduce buyers to the premium segment, but a new study finds that they don't garner the highest rates of non-luxury customer conquests. It turns out that a Volvo leads among folks moving up to a premium brand, and it isn't even one that's made anymore, at that.
A recent study by Polk and IHS Automotive looked at what models had the highest rates of buyers upgrading from a non-luxury segment. The information comes from its new vehicle registration data through April 2014. All ten top models boasted conquest rates of over 50 percent, but the Volvo C70 led the field with 68.01 percent of its customers coming from non-premium brands.

Driver Lets Infiniti Do The Driving For Him

Self-driving cars seem like the way of the future, but some can't stand the wait. Like this guy, driving down Germany's famous Autobahn in an Infiniti Q50 with Active Lane Control. To test how active the Active Lane Control feature really is, he moves from the driver's seat to the back seat and lets the car's suite of safety systems take control. Active Lane Control debuted in 2013 as part of the Lane Departure Prevention system. It helps Q50's driver use fewer steering inputs by compensating for road conditions. It works with the LDP to keep the vehicle in its intended lane. Used with cruise control, the car maintains its position fairly well on the road. Active Lane Control is only there to help however, not drive for you. While the technology is impressive, it certainly isn't up to the task of navigating the road full time. This driver/passenger is putting his life and the lives of everyone around him in serious danger. We suggest other Infiniti owners wait for the real deal. The future is closer than you think. Related Gallery New Tech Means Self-Driving Cars Are Already Among Us Infiniti Safety Technology Gadgets

Infiniti spruces up the Q50 for 2018

Though overshadowed by the literally larger QX80 Monograph SUV concept, Infiniti's revised 2018 Q50 still made an appearance at the stand in New York. It joins a long list of cars including the Acura TLX, Hyundai Sonata, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, VW Golf, and Toyota Sienna and Yaris that all went under the knife for the show. The Infiniti Q50's update may be one of the most mild, though, as it only consisted of cosmetic changes. Up front, the grille has been enlarged and given more prominent swoops at each corner. On the S version, sharp creases appear on either side of the primary grille and descend down to the lower, center grille. The outboard grilles of the front bumper have changed shape, too, and they now feature contrasting black plastic trim. The standard Q50 has a new bumper, as well, and though less aggressive than the S version, it still looks sporty with a more pronounced chin spoiler. Both iterations of the 2018 Q50 share the same tail end. The main change is in the rear bumper. A center diffuser has now appeared at the base. The contour of the diffuser is echoed by two creases in the bumper at progressively higher points. On the S model, the panel between the diffuser and the first crease is painted black, and the diffuser is painted in the body color. The standard model's entire bumper is painted in body color, and the diffuser looks to be a more muted black or gray. Inside, even fewer changes have been made. A new steering wheel with reshaped thumb grips is now included. Infiniti also added new stitching to the instrument panel cover and leather shift knob. You'll be able to examine all of these changes up close at an Infiniti dealer this summer when the cars arrive. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.