2018 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Infiniti Q30 will debut at Frankfurt Motor Show

The Infiniti Q30 made its debut as a svelte concept at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. Now, two years later, the luxury hatchback will make a big return to the German show in September to launch in production guise. Before the end of the year, the first Q30s will start showing up for sale in European showrooms to take on rivals like the Audi A3. To tease the launch, Infiniti has released this single image of the Q30 going through final validation testing on the road. Unfortunately, it's still wearing a very effective camouflage pattern – just like some previously spied examples. Still, we can tell that there are definite similarities to the hatchback's stylish QX30 compact crossover sibling, which is also on the way. Both of them have sharply pointed, narrow headlights and steeply raked hatches. We can also just make out the deeply creased swage line that cuts through the front door handles and then dips down in this photo. Infiniti promises more details to come about the Q30 before the Frankfurt launch. At least for European examples, assembly is reportedly earmarked for the Sunderland factory in the UK. Related Video: Infiniti Q30 to debut at Frankfurt IAA 2015 All-new Q30 compact entry to debut 90 days from today to the public Infiniti's first-ever compact car currently going through validation and dynamic tuning in Europe Sales to begin in Europe before end of 2015 HONG KONG – Infiniti will unveil its first-ever compact car at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt in September this year (September 17 to 27). Two years after the Infiniti Q30 Concept debuted at the 2013 Frankfurt show, the production version of this segment-spanning compact car will be revealed at the show this year. Infiniti is in the final stages of preparing the launch. Dynamic testing and ultimate validation is currently taking place across the UK and throughout mainland Europe where development of the vehicle has been completed at the company's Engineering Center in Cranfield, UK, since 2014. The Q30 will go on sale in Europe towards the end of 2015 with other markets to follow subsequently. More news on the Infiniti Q30 active compact will be released closer to the Frankfurt show in September. About Infiniti Infiniti Motor Company Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with sales operations in over 50 countries. The Infiniti brand was launched in 1989. Its range of premium automobiles is currently built in manufacturing facilities in Japan, the United States and China.

Weekly Recap: Automakers rethink the definition of luxury

Variety is the spice of life, but it's becoming a prerequisite for luxury carmakers in the ultra-competitive US market. The Detroit Auto Show was strong evidence of this reality. It's not enough to offer attractive and well-appointed cars and SUVs anymore. Luxury brands that want to be competitive need to invest in everything from high-powered supercars to clever hybrids. To be relevant, you need to be green and mean – and everything in between. As General Motors product chief Mark Reuss said after the reveal of the 640-horsepower Cadillac CTS-V: "We are not leaving anything on the table." He was speaking for Cadillac, but he might as well have been speaking for the luxury car market. The CTS-V debuted in Detroit about an hour after Lexus surprised showgoers with the reveal of the RC F GT3 race car and then announced ambitious plans to return to competitive racing. That almost overshadowed the fact Lexus had just revealed another potent addition to its growing F line, the 467-hp GS F. View 20 Photos But for luxury brands, it's not just about maximum horsepower for well-heeled enthusiasts or decadent amenities for the Grey Poupon set. Strong competition from all corners has forced automakers to refine and expand their lineups in ways unforeseen even a few years ago. Case in point: Mercedes-Benz finally has an answer to the BMW X6, rolling out the GLE coupe in Detroit. The X6, which blends coupe-like styling cues with some of the functionality of an SUV, debuted in 2008. Back then it was a punchline, but seven years and more than 260,000 sales later, the X6's success has compelled Benz to respond. Mercedes – one of the strongest proponents of diesel technology – also debuted the C350 plug-in hybrid sedan, which promises a range of 20 miles on electricity, though fuel economy figures were not announced. The car pairs Mercedes' well-received 208-hp turbocharged four-cylinder with an electric motor for total output of 275 hp and 443 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, Infiniti will add the Q30 hatchback to its lineup by the end of the year, new president Roland Kruger reiterated in Detroit. It's expected to be joined by a crossover variant, and the additions will help strengthen Infiniti in the United States and abroad. "While we're expanding our product line, we're also expanding our market reach," he said. That's something echoed by Jaguar executives, who are preparing to launch the brand's first crossover, the F-Pace, in 2016.

Infiniti Q60 Coupe spied in production guise

Here is the best news we've had all day: the production Infiniti Q60 Coupe will bear an uncanny resemblance to the concept car that previewed it earlier this year in Detroit. We know this thanks to our very first round of spy photos of the heavily camouflaged production car. Although there are only three images to draw from, we've got a clear picture of the concept-inspired lines of this new two-door. In particular, the front and rear fascias look to draw a lot of inspiration from the concept. In front, the headlights look to be similar in shape, while the double-arch grille looks largely unchanged from what the company previewed. Perhaps the biggest change up front is around the fog lights, which look to sit in far more conventional housings. Also gone is the Q60 Concept's Formula One-inspired chin, possibly in part due to the company's (and parent Renault's) perilous position as a title sponsor for the Red Bull Racing team. The taillights reinforce the concept car inspiration, retaining a similarly svelte shape and tying in with a small trunk lid. Also like the Q60 Concept, our spies report that a twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V6 will be on offer, likely as the range-topping engine. We'd expect the volume motor to be the Mercedes-Benz 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder found in the likes of the new Q30, as well as the CLA-, GLA-, and A-Class. It's also certainly possible that Infiniti's long-serving 3.7-liter V6 will be available in some form. Whatever engines arrive, we can expect six-speed manual and seven-speed automatic transmissions to be the sole options. Have a look at the photos up at the top of the page. And for comparison's sake, we've included the official Q60 Concept gallery down below just under the video showing a 360-degree view. Take a peek at both and let us know what you think of Infiniti's work.