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Genesis G70 vs sport sedan rivals: How it compares on paper

We got our first look at the Genesis G70 sport sedan today. We think it looks good, with enough ties to its fellow Genesises (Geneses?) to further establish the brand and just enough distinction to help it stand out from the crowd. But ah yes, the crowd. Although Genesis didn't release the G70's full spec sheet, it revealed just enough for us to start sizing it up to its future competition. There are certainly others with which to compare (Lexus IS, Cadillac ATS, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Jaguar XE just to name a few), but we decided to take a look at the best sellers and most competitive luxury sport sedans. (And hey, if you like this, we can always do a follow up) So, here we have the Genesis G70 vs BMW 3 Series vs Audi A4 / S4 vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs Infiniti Q50. Nothing like a good chart to dig your teeth into on a Friday. Note that we only compared those models that line up with the G70. So, we left out the BMW 320i and Audi A4 Ultra entry level models as well as the Q50 3.0t mid-grade model that's considerably cheaper than the German performance upgrade models we listed. All 0-60 figures are rough estimates based on several sources, models/drivetrains and OEM figures. Related Video: Featured Gallery Genesis G70 vs other sport sedans View 15 Photos Audi BMW Genesis Infiniti Mercedes-Benz Luxury Sedan consumer infiniti q50 audi s4 genesis g70 mercedes-benz c-class bmw 330i bmw 340i

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.

2017 Infiniti Q60 Coupe debuts with 400-hp V6

Infiniti killed it with the G35 Coupe in 2002, its second act being the G37 in 2008. The third act has officially begun, the 2017 Q60 Coupe launches today at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. It hasn't strayed far from the concept shown a year ago, the major tweaks being government-approved headlights and side mirrors. Without discussing numbers, Infiniti says the new car is lower and wider than the current Q60, with a lower center of gravity, and it is more powerful and efficient. Much has gone on with the rolling stock, too: tighter wheel gaps, staggered tires on some models, wheels designed to absorb road vibration, and optional 20-inch alloys available for the first time. In the US, there are two engine choices with three levels of output. The twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 comes with either 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, or 300 hp and 295 lb-ft. In the US that will mean a boost of 70 hp and 80 lb-ft over the 3.7-liter V6 in the current car, and Infiniti estimates a combined fuel economy rating of 22 mpg. The 300-hp unit has a provisional rating of 23 mpg, the increased efficiency down to bodywork shaping and an active shutter behind the grille. A direct-injected, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbo is the second engine, getting 208 hp and 258 lb-ft and an estimated 24 mpg in the US. All engines will shift through an adaptive seven-speed automatic transmission. G'bye, manual gearbox. A Drive Mode Selector can dial through six settings, the Customize option throwing up three more individual choices to get the most from the updated internals. The V6 models can be optioned with Infiniti's second-generation Direct Adaptive Steering and brand-new Rack Electronic Power Steering that claims to provide more linear assistance. The four-cylinder comes with a speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion setup. Revisions to the base suspension include relocated shock absorbers among a new link layout, and modified shock tuning and bushings. Above that there's a brand new Digital Dynamic Suspension that will come standard on the Sport trim, now with adaptive dampers. Both units should have improved performance thanks to stiffer crossmembers. Finally, the cockpit gets dressed in one of three trims depending on the model, with aluminum or black wood at the entry-level end, carbon fiber at the other end, and silver glass fiber for buyers who choose the white or red leather.