2013 Infiniti Jx35 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Infiniti Q60 Concept paints a pretty picture of the brand's future

Infiniti's final teaser for the Q60 Concept may have given away the shape of the curvy coupe ahead of its debut at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, but that's not necessarily such a tragedy for this model because the design has so many subtle touches. The more you look at it, the more cool details and ornate lines you notice. What initially looks fairly simple up front belies a multitude of fascinating details, including the F1-inspired lower air dam and the subtle fin at the tip of the hood. The design around the C-pillar may be complicated but is also attractive thanks to the confluence of design from the rear fender arch, beltline and crescent-shaped cutout in the window. The concept's interior also takes a minimalist approach. It's predominantly covered in cream leather and features sports seats in quilted leather. A mix of Alcantara and carbon fiber trim are able to show off the concept's performance intentions, though. Meanwhile the glass roof makes sitting behind the wheel feel airy and inviting. Underneath, the Q60 Concept's arching hood is the company's conceptual 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 and a seven-speed automatic. Infiniti promises the production of the mill is coming in the next two years. The big question is whether the mix of sharp edges and flowing lines on the Q60 Concept really see production without too much alternation. Infiniti plans to unveil the production version next year. Until then, check out how the model appears now on the floor of the Detroit show. Related Gallery Infiniti Q60 Concept: Detroit 2015 View 28 Photos Related Gallery Infiniti Q60 Concept View 28 Photos Related Gallery Infiniti Q60 Concept: Detroit 2015 View 14 Photos News Source: InfinitiImage Credit: Live photos copyright 2015 Drew Phillips / AOL Design/Style Detroit Auto Show Infiniti Coupe Performance 2015 Detroit Auto Show infiniti q60 infiniti q60 concept

Grand Prix of the Americas, Day 1 Recap: a city arose in the fields, and it was good

The Circuit of the Americas is the miracle in the fields, the track that no one thought would be finished in time to hold its appointed race. But the Texans got past the turmoil, and even though the heavy machinery was still working on dirt roads as July, come November 18 there was a beautiful, and completed, Formula 1 facility for Travis County to call its own. It was dusty, sure. But it was done, and F1 could come to town.
Infiniti, sponsors of Red Bull Racing, invited Autoblog to watch the first grand prix in America since 2007, and the first GP on a dedicated F1 course since the Phoenix street circuit in 1991. Here's a little recap of what we saw and fount out on day one.

Porsche tops J.D. Power quality index as Korean brands soar

While complaints about infotainment systems remain a thorn in the side of automakers for J.D. Power's annual Initial Quality Study, there's a lot to celebrate this year. The average number of problems reported per 100 vehicles fell to 112 in 2015 – a three-percent improvement compared to 116 in 2014. The results of this year's survey are based on the responses of over 84,000 people about problems within the first 90 days of buying or leasing a 2015 model-year vehicle. For the third consecutive year, Porsche tops the rankings with an average of 80 problems per 100 vehicles. Although, that's slightly more than the 74 the German sportscar maker scored in 2014. "While the Japanese automakers continue to make improvements, we're seeing other brands, most notably Korean makes, really accelerating the rate of improvement," Renee Stephens, vice president of US automotive quality at J.D. Power, said in the study's release. In fact, Kia ranks as one of the biggest movers in this year's list. The Korean brand jumped to second place from seventh last year. The company had an average of 86 problems per 100 vehicles, a 20-point improvement. Third place went to Jaguar with an average of 93 problems reported, versus last year's second-place finish with 87 of them. Fourth place was Hyundai, and fifth-place Infiniti also earned a gold star for improvement with 97 issues per 100 vehicles – 31-points better than last year. Fiat still anchored the bottom of the list. However, its 161 problems this year is a lot better than the 206 in 2014. Ranked by nationality, Korean brands (Hyundai and Kia) are now leading the industry in initial quality with an average of 90 problems reported per 100 vehicles. According to J.D. Power, this is the first time Europe's figure beat Japan with 113 and 114 issues, respectively. The American brands also averaged 114. Whereas General Motors dominated last year, the segment awards are spread out in 2015. GM, Hyundai, Nissan, and Volkswagen Group are all tied with four models each earning prizes. For more information, you can also see all of the graphs, here. J.D.