Earlier this year, we heard that Infiniti might be working on getting back into the performance sedan market. After all, the Q60, its last entry in this range, has been out of production for several years. With the luxury brand’s parent company, Nissan, in a pretty tough spot, nothing is likely to be off the table. As it turns out, we could be getting something even hotter than a 450-horsepower 3 Series – Infiniti executives claim they’re doing just the right thing, targeting the likes of BMW M, Mercedes AMG and Audi RS with “ultimate performance” cars.
Infiniti strives for performance
In words with Automotive NewsNissan Americas product planning chief Ponz Pandikuthira shared what the future holds for Infiniti. The brand’s motorsport division, Nismo, is reportedly helping to breathe new life into existing and future models. The project is reportedly aimed at “low volume” and is in an “advanced planning stage.” Pandikuthira expressed a desire to provide thrilling, high-adrenaline excitement without compromising on comfort. “Customers want ultimate performance but don’t want to compromise on luxury, quietness and sophisticated design,” he said A. Sounds a lot like BMW M’s mantra.
It’s also a bridge further than Infiniti’s previous attempts at “performance.” Unlike the Q60 IPL, which featured a retuned suspension and numerous other changes but only offered a paltry 18 hp gain over the standard car, the new performance models will offer an obviously different driving experience. Tiago Castro, vice president of Infiniti Americas A: “It’s easy to just make another 20 horsepower, but how do you reliably deliver 50 percent more horsepower?” He even specifically mentioned the Q60 IPL and complained about the meager performance gains: “That’s exactly what I don’t want to do.”
What the BMW M-Fighting Performance Cars from Infiniti could offer
A further reports that Infiniti will offer a variety of vehicles that could compete with BMW M’s lineup. The QX80, a three-row SUV, is the only current vehicle identified by name. It would likely target the BMW X7 M60i, Cadillac’s Escalade V and other big-power, big-price three-row SUVs. A true M3-performance sedan (and/or coupe) is a given, although of course this requires reviving Infiniti’s now-dead sedan offering. As we previously reported, the new Infiniti sedan would be based on the current Nissan Z and offer a manual transmission. While the standard car is rumored to produce up to 450 horsepower, it’s likely we’d see even more from a true M-rivaling Infiniti sedan.
Regardless of metrics and details, Infiniti’s performance car brings the brand something even more important than pure performance: desirability. The halo effect of a real M3 combat sedan, for example, also allows the brand to sell so many more base cars. Think about it: How many standard 3 Series does BMW sell to people lured to the brand by the M3? If Infiniti manages to bring a performance project to market, there’s a good chance it would undercut comparable BMW M models in price without compromising too much on performance. At least assuming that Infiniti stays true to its previous aspirations. Interestingly, a Nissan GT-R successor is reportedly in the works, but there has been no comment from Infiniti. However, the chances are good that Infiniti wants to move forward quickly. This car isn’t expected to hit the market for another three to five years, which just might not be soon enough for the luxury automaker.
Source: Automotive News
