Infiniti extends long-wheelbase Q50 L for the Chinese market

Fri, 22 Aug 2014

Want to sell your luxury sedan in China? You're going to need a long-wheelbase model. Not because the still-dominant Chinese government mandates it, or because the customers are taller, but because Chinese buyers tend to like being chauffeured around in the back of their luxury sedans instead of driving themselves, so the priority is on rear-seat space over driving dynamics.

We've seen the likes of Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo all roll out long-wheelbase versions of their compact and midsize sedans specifically to cater to Chinese tastes. Even Infiniti – which now bases itself in Hong Kong – offers a long-wheelbase Q70 L not only in China but around the world, and has now bolstered its extended offerings with the reveal of the Q50 L, set to debut at the Chengdu Motor Show later this month.

Set to be produced locally for the local market, the Q50 L adds nearly two inches to the wheelbase of the Q50 to the benefit of rear-seat legroom. Power comes from Infiniti's 2.0-liter turbo four offering 208 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, driving to the rear wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission with drive-by-wire steering.

INFINITI GOES LONG ON PREMIUM WITH THE Q50L FOR CHINA

- Extended wheelbase for greater passenger comfort
- Portfolio expansion delivers against Infiniti's global growth plan
- First Infiniti model to be produced locally in China

Hong Kong, August 20th, 2014 – Infiniti today announces the world premiere of the Q50L, the new long-wheelbase variant of its Q50 sports saloon. With a 48mm/1.9in longer wheelbase than the standard Q50, the Q50L provides more room and comfort for rear passengers.

With this introduction, Infiniti is delivering on its strategy to accommodate the sophisticated Chinese market, listening closely to customers' needs. Of further note, the Q50L is in keeping with the soon-to-launch (in the U.S. and Canada) updated Q70L long wheelbase saloon, a model which originated in the Chinese market in 2012. The Q50L is dedicated to the mainland Chinese market and will be offered exclusively there.

The stylish and tech-savvy Q50L premium sports saloon debuts at the end of August for the public and press at the Chengdu Motor Show (Sichuan province) in Comfort, Elegant, Sports, Luxury and Luxury Sports trims, providing a wide range of personalised choices for aspiring premium customers. Deliveries start in the beginning of November.

Of equal significance, Q50L is the first domestically produced Infiniti model for the important Chinese market. Production will take place at the Xiangyang factory in Hubei province, which becomes the fourth assembly plant for Infiniti vehicles globally. China is a rapidly growing market which is now considered a major hub of reference for the Infiniti brand worldwide. Sales growth year-on-year for the first six months of 2014 reached 130%, or total deliveries of just over 14,000 vehicles.

The launch of the Infiniti Q50L marks the next step in the company's global growth plan underlining its determination to turn China into Infiniti's second volume hub globally. At the core of the plan is a mix of global as well as dedicated regional models that expand the company's portfolio while establishing a broader global manufacturing footprint.

The Infiniti Q50L has an overall length of 4852mm and wheelbase stretched to 2898mm adding nicely to the rear passengers' sense of premium comfort. The Q50L is powered by Infiniti's first 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder gas engine that is turbocharged to 208hp and 320Nm of torque. Together with its 7-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode, this powertrain perfectly combines performance and fuel efficiency.

Representative of Infiniti's high-tech priorities with the Q50L, the world's first steer-by-wire system – Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS) – is also included, allowing unprecedented driving comfort, safety, and low-effort steering precision. The intuitive double touch-screen Infiniti InTouch HCI system, Active Lane Control (ALC), new Bose® 14-speaker Studio on Wheels® audio system, plus other onboard extras like the in-car mood light system, rear window sunshade, electronic anti-glare side mirrors, all ensure the Infiniti Q50L can meet or exceed the needs of discerning Chinese customers.

While the globally successful standard-wheelbase Q50 will continue being imported to the Chinese mainland market from the Tochigi factory in Japan, the fully Chinese-assembled Q50L is a direct answer to growing demand for Infiniti products in the region.

By Noah Joseph