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Infiniti cribs new US boss from Porsche

Just weeks before he was supposed to become CEO of Porsche Cars Australia, Infiniti has apparently offered Porsche COO and Executive Vice President Michael Bartsch a deal he couldn't refuse. Thus, Bartsch has join the company as Vice President of Infiniti Americas, the luxury marque's top North American post. Bartsch replaces Ben Poore, who has been with the automaker since 2008, having led both a 22-percent sales surge in 2012 and the brand's current sales slough, Automotive News reports.
Bartsch, Porsche's No. 2 US executive, has held the COO and Executive Vice President positions at Porsche since 2005 and was scheduled to become CEO of Porsche's Oz division on September 1. Infiniti has experienced a number of recent personnel changes in the past week: it named Vincent Gillet, formerly an executive for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, to lead its marketing efforts worldwide and Simon Cox, a former designer for automakers including Ford and Peugeot, to head a new design studio in London.
Poore reportedly will pursue other interests outside of the auto industry. Read more about the personnel change in the press release below.

Infiniti QX50 concept previews production model with variable compression engine

Infiniti revealed its QX50 concept ahead of its official debut at the Detroit Auto Show, and despite the concept title, it looks pretty much production-ready. The company calls the crossover "an evolution of the QX Sport Inspiration" concept, and that's certainly accurate. Side-by-side, the QX Sport, which we already figured was previewing a new QX50, and this concept look nearly identical. The primary changes are bumpers and side skirts that feature the obligatory aluminum trim to look like skid plates, and simple black plastic fender flares. The overall result is a crossover that is pleasant but not exactly exciting that bridges the gap between the small and swoopy QX30 and the large QX60. The plain wrapper hides plenty of impressive technology, though. Under the hood is Infiniti's fascinating variable-compression turbocharged engine. It's a 2.0-liter inline-four that can alter its compression ratio to anything between 8:1 and 14:1. The result is an engine that produces an estimated 268 horsepower and 288 lb-ft of torque. Infiniti says the four-cylinder should be about 27-percent more efficient than a comparable V6. In addition, while the company says this concept just shows a potential application of the engine, it's safe to say that you can expect it in the production model. With the new engine, the QX50 will also switch from to a front-drive platform, with all-wheel drive definitely an option or possibly standard; the current QX50 is based on the aging rear-drive FM platform used on other Infinitis and the Nissan 370Z. The other new tech buried in the QX50 concept's body is what Infiniti calls the "first production-ready incarnation" of its ProPilot semi-autonomous technology. The company doesn't go into great detail about what it will do except for handling stop-and-go highway traffic. We would hazard a guess that the system is functionally the same as the one introduced on the Nissan Serena minivan in Japan. It goes by the same name and can handle stop-and-go traffic, as well as maintain the car's lane position and distance behind other cars. It's another safe bet that we'll see this system in the production model. Other details about the car, such as the interior, have yet to be revealed. We're sure to see it as well as other information about the QX50's technology when it makes its full debut in Detroit. Related Video:

2017 Infiniti Q60 glitters in gold for the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog

It's that time of year again. The air is getting cooler, the leaves are changing colors, and Neiman Marcus has selected this year's car for its annual Christmas Book. The limited-edition ride is a 2017 Infiniti Q60 based on the 400-horsepower Red Sport 400 model. What really sets this Neiman Marcus version apart from the average Red Sport is the striking paint job. Called Solar Mica, the paint looks a bit like a glossy gold leaf. Combined with the Gallery White leather interior with Silver Optic Fiber trim, this is an Infiniti that would be perfect for Yukon Cornelius. In addition to the color scheme, the car comes with an ivory leather weekend bag, an indoor car cover with Neiman Marcus branding, a plaque with the VIN number, and a certificate of authenticity. Oh, it also comes with a $63,000-price tag, which is a about $10,000 more than an entry level Red Sport 400 with rear-wheel drive. Neiman Marcus will only offer 50 examples of this Infiniti, and it goes on sale at noon on November 2. Interested buyers can call to reserve one at (844) 367-6971. If you're serious about buying, you'll probably want that number on speed dial. The special edition Neiman Marcus cars tend to sell out fast. In 2009, 50 Jaguar XJLs sold out in just over four hours. In 2012, 12 McLaren MP4-12C Spiders flew out the door in two hours, and in 2006, 50 BMW M6 convertibles vanished in a stunning 92 seconds. Related Video: