2006 Infiniti M45 Base Sedan 4-door 4.5l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Infiniti keeps us on our toes for Q50 Eau Rouge

If you've been watching the evolving rapprochement between Infiniti and Red Bull Racing, and have wondered what the point was if the Japanese automaker didn't capitalize on its expensive collaboration with the world-champion Formula One team, then Infiniti may finally have the answer come the Detroit Auto Show next month.
That's where Nissan's premium division is set to unveil the Q50 Eau Rouge concept, a show car set to showcase its F1 involvement in the form of a jazzed-up sports sedan. We still don't have much to go on in terms of what the concept car will actually entail beyond a body kit, but Infiniti has launched a dedicated website for the reveal and with it, this teaser video. It still doesn't tell us much, but it's a cool animation just the same, so check it out below.

Infiniti prices Q50 2.0t from $34,855, hybrid from $47,955

Infiniti has a whole range of new engines coming out for the Q50. And that means a new pricing scheme to go along with it. The bottom line is that you can now get into the sports sedan for as little as $34,855 (inclusive of the $905 destination charge). That price is for the 2.0-liter turbo model that's the new point of entry into the range with 208 horsepower on tap. It also represents a much lower starting price for the 2016 model than the one it replaces, which started at over $38k for the base Q50 3.7. It also undercuts the price of the comparable Audi A4, which also comes with a 2.0-liter turbo four priced from $38,250. The BMW 3 Series straddles the divide with two models equipped with 2.0-liter turbo fours: the less potent 320i with 180 hp priced slightly below the Infiniti at $34,145, and the more powerful 328i with 240 hp for $39,345. If you want all-wheel drive or the Premium trim, you'll need to cough up an extra couple grand for each, which is a larger premium than the Japanese automaker charged before. Pricing for the V6-powered 3.0t and Red Sport 400 models are still to come. But along with the 2.0t sticker, Infiniti also released pricing for the hybrid model, which only comes in Premium spec and starts at $47,955. That's a couple grand more than the outgoing version cost at $45,305. For the time being, the top of the line is the Q50 Hybrid Premium AWD, which goes for $49,955. Related Video: INFINITI ANNOUNCES U.S. PRICING FOR 2016 Q50 2.0T AND Q50 HYBRID PREMIUM MODELS First two of four available Q50 engines available now, new 3.0-liter V6 twin turbo-equipped models to follow later this year NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Infiniti today announced pricing for the 2016 Infiniti Q50 2.0t and Q50 Hybrid Premium models, which are on sale now at Infiniti retailers nationwide. Pricing starts at $33,950 for the Q50 2.0t and $47,050 for the Q50 Hybrid Premium. The Infiniti Q50 sports sedan, Infiniti's best-selling model, enters the 2016 model year with an array of significant enhancements, starting with the addition of three new turbocharged engines and continuing with new technologies designed to enhance the already strong driving dynamics of Infiniti's best-selling model. The 2016 Infiniti Q50 is now offered in an expanded range of trim levels, each in a choice of rear-wheel or all-wheel drive – Q50 2.0t and Q50 2.0t Premium, Q50 3.0t Premium, Q50 Hybrid Premium, Q50 3.0t Sport and Q50 Red Sport 400.

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: