Refreshed styling and holistic performance technologies for new INFINITI Q50
03/07/2017
Infiniti
INFINITI has enhanced the Q50 premium sports sedan, which makes its global debut at the 2017 Geneva International Motor Show.
The new Q50 features refreshed exterior and interior design, and innovative technologies designed to empower and support the driver.
"At INFINITI we seek to empower our customers on their journey and experience with us - whether it is with our products, with our forward looking technologies, with our services, or simply a passion for driving. There is no better vehicle that incorporates all the elements of the INFINITI brand than the Q50 sedan." Roland Krueger, President of INFINITI
The enhanced sports sedan retains its sleek proportions and athletic stance, while establishing greater visual differentiation between model versions, including the performance-inspired Red Sport 400. Through the Red Sport 400 grade, INFINITI's designers have brought the model in line with its 'designed to perform' ethos.
Changes to the interior blend artistry with innovation, with stitching and the use of authentic materials, further elevating the level of craftsmanship inside the Q50. The INFINITI InTouch Services bring the future of in-car connectivity to the interior, while the inclusion of the brand's 'spinal support' seats ensures a comfortable space in which to spend time.
Innovative technologies empower and support the driver, while giving a glimpse into the automotive future. The new Q50 is the first INFINITI vehicle to use ProPILOT as the overall brand for the company's driver support technologies.
The Q50 delivers an empowering and rewarding drive thanks to innovative powertrains, including the award-winning 3.0-liter V6 twin turbo engine from the new and exclusive VR powertrain family, which was recently named on the prestigious 2017 Ward's 10 Best Engines list.
The Q50 is INFINITI's best-selling model. Since the first generation went on sale in 2013, INFINITI has sold close to 210,000 units worldwide. In 2016 INFINITI achieved more than 230,000 global sales - a 7-percent year-on-year increase and a new global sales record - with the Q50 sports sedan accounting for one third of the brand's total.
The new model goes on sale globally from the second quarter of the 2017 calendar year.
More information on the new Q50, including images and video, is available at INFINITIpresspacks.com.
New model grades pave the way for new design elements
New model grades offer INFINITI customers a choice of two exterior designs
Design of the Red Sport 400 model symbolizes the performance potential of its 3.0-liter twin turbo V6 engine
"With the new Q50 we are introducing new model grades, each offering their own look and character. Red Sport 400 in particular lets drivers express themselves with a more assertive design that clearly conveys the car's performance potential." Francois Bancon, Vice President, Global Product Strategy, INFINITI
Coinciding with the refreshed look of the new Q50 is the introduction of a new grade structure - Pure, Luxe, Sport and Red Sport 400 - which sees differentiation in the look of the range-topping sports grades. This has allowed INFINITI designers the opportunity to tailor different designs according to the attributes and character of the models within the range. The Sport grade adds performance-focused exterior design, while further enhancements and the most powerful engine appear exclusively in the Red Sport 400 grade.
All grades benefit from an update to INFINITI's signature double-arch grille, which creates a strong first impression. The grille's three-dimensional, textural quality has been enhanced with a deeper detailing of the waved mesh-pattern surface and chrome surround. Rising from the double-arch grille is a smooth and commanding character line, which flows energetically through the side of the body like a wave, creating a highly fluid profile - a trademark INFINITI look.
Designers have also evolved INFINITI's signature lighting at the front and rear of the car across all grades. The LED headlamps enhance INFINITI's trademark 'human-eye' aspect, while new slimmer combination LED rear lamps, derived from the Q60 sports coupe, result in a more delicate appearance with a sharper light signature.
Further design changes at the front of the Q50 for Sport and Red Sport 400 model grades include a more angular front bumper and wider, lower air intakes - adding greater visual potency. Inspired by INFINITI's 'zero lift' approach to aerodynamic efficiency, the new Q50 boasts a more prominent airfoil at the base of the front bumper.
Design details specific to the Red Sport 400 model grade assert the new Q50's performance credentials and add an aggressive, confident aura. With its 3.0-liter twin turbo V6 engine capable of generating up to 400 hp, INFINITI's designers have sought to symbolize the performance potential of the Red Sport 400 in its appearance, bringing the car in line with the brand's 'designed to perform' ethos.
The rear of the Red Sport 400 places more focus on the twin exhausts and rear diffuser with a two-tone paint finish - the body color is accompanied by dark metallic trim around the base of the rear bumper. Door mirrors are finished in high-gloss black paint, adding to the car's confident look. Red Sport 400 models come equipped with unique 19-inch wheels - to contribute to a more aggressive stance, while also improving handling and traction under cornering and hard acceleration. The aluminum alloy wheels fitted to Red Sport 400 models also convey a more technical aspect in their design with sharper, thinner spokes than those of the Sport model grade.
Finely-crafted, high-technology cabin
Curation of new materials creates enhanced level of artistry and quality in the cabin
Driver-centric Red Sport 400 interior designed with performance in mind
Technology at its heart, with INFINITI InTouch Services and advanced I-key system
"The cabin of the Q50 has been created with human artistry in mind, enabling occupants to travel in style and comfort. The refreshed Q50 takes this artistry to a new level, with hand-worked materials giving a greater sense of craftsmanship than ever before." Alfonso Albaisa, Executive Design Director, INFINITI
Inside the new Q50, INFINITI has introduced an enhanced level of artistry and quality to the high-tech cabin, providing a comfortable and connected space. Furthermore, the creation of the new grade structure has enabled INFINITI designers to differentiate each model with its own unique interior character.
Greater levels of craftsmanship are central to the interior design modifications. In particular, leather-like materials now surround the instrument panel and are now finished with double stitching, while INFINITI designers have curated and crafted wood trims for the dashboard. These trims have been treated in such a way as to retain the fundamental character and feeling of the wood and its grain - the result is more authentic in appearance than more traditional high gloss, wooden veneers.
INFINITI designers have also incorporated the performance-inspired ethos of the new Q50 inside the cabin, derived from the Q60 sports coupe. A new steering wheel features molded positions for the driver's thumbs, and affords intuitive fingertip access to reshaped steering wheel-mounted gear-shifter paddles. A new performance-oriented leather shift knob - like the instrument panel, also bearing double-stitched seams - is surrounded by new chrome trim and features an inlaid INFINITI logo.
The new Q50 interior features INFINITI's hallmark 'spinal support' seats - carefully engineered to provide a consistent level of support and minimize pressure on lower and upper back muscles.
The Red Sport 400 model grade is further differentiated with red stitching throughout the cabin and quilted side inserts on the seats, as well as sporty, yet simple, dashboard dials with dark chrome finish. The adoption of more technical materials accentuate the car's performance potential, such as aluminum with patterned surface trim on the dashboard, matte dark chrome on the doors and a black headliner for a more focused and cocooned interior.
At the heart of the center console is INFINITI's InTouch Services, bringing the future of in-car connectivity to the interior of the Q50. Unlike conventional interfaces, the Q50 has two touch-capacitive color screens (LCD/VGA 8-inch upper and 7-inch lower). The system is designed to effortlessly synchronize car and driver - content and functions directed to the upper screen include the most frequently viewed applications, such as navigation, while other content is directed to the lower display screen for easy access.
InTouch allows occupants to personalize the interior environment of the Q50 according to their preferences, and can store profiles for multiple drivers, identified by their I-key (intelligent key). This includes an easy entry and exit assist system. Based on the profile detected on the I-key, the Q50 moves the driver's seat to the most rearward position and the steering wheel up and out of the way for comfortable ingress or egress, before automatically returning both to the custom memory setting.
The Q50 offers an available 16-speaker, Bose(R) Performance Series sound system. Featuring advanced staging technology, the signal processing algorithm designed especially for this system delivers a precise, rich and nuanced acoustic experience for driver and passengers. Bose's CenterPoint 2.0 software, the Q50's audio system enables listeners to enjoy a surround-sound experience from any stereo source. It has been specifically engineered to meet the unique demands of reproducing surround sound in the sedan.
New Q50 packages driver support technologies under ProPILOT banner
First INFINITI vehicle to use ProPILOT to label driver support technologies
These technologies are underpinned by Direct Adaptive Steering system, a building block for future semi-autonomous drive development
"INFINITI has introduced a number of world-first innovations through the Q50 in recent years. As INFINITI's best-selling model, the Q50 has always embodied our commitment to make driver-empowering technologies accessible to a large number of customers. The new model will let customers benefit from the latest advances in active safety with our driver support technologies." Roland Krueger, President of INFINITI
The INFINITI Q50 sports sedan delivers an empowering and rewarding drive thanks to a range of innovative powertrains and next-generation technologies to enhance ride and handling.
New for 2018, the Q50 is expected to be the first INFINITI vehicle to package all of the company's driver support technologies under the ProPILOT banner.
Allowing drivers to retain ultimate control over their vehicle, INFINITI's available driver support technologies empower drivers, giving confidence to them rather than replacing them. These technologies support more onerous driving tasks, like easy navigation in highway conditions or keeping track of the position of surrounding vehicles.
Driver assistance technologies in the new INFINITI Q50 includes Direct Adaptive Steering; Active Lane Control; Intelligent Cruise Control; Distance Control Assist; Backup Collision Intervention; Blind Spot Warning and Intervention; Lane Departure Warning and Prevention; Forward Emergency Braking; and Predictive Forward Collision Warning.
INFINITI's second-generation Direct Adaptive Steering is a steer-by-wire system that supports the driver by providing smooth operation, more direct steering responses and easy maneuverability. Direct Adaptive Steering is a precursor to future steering systems that will form a key building block on the way to achieving fully-autonomous driving.
The system does away with mechanically linked parts, instead employing digital components to improve steering reactions and feedback. The electronic connection between components means reactions to driver input are instantaneous.
The new Direct Adaptive Steering system provides customization options accessed through the Drive Mode Selector. Using controls on the center console, the Drive Mode Selector allows the steering response to be selected from six available options: Personal, Standard, Snow, Eco, Sport and Sport+. Standard mode is more akin to that of a conventional steering system.
The Q50 is the first INFINITI model to benefit from two generations of Direct Adaptive Steering, both in 2013, when the world's first digital steering system was introduced, and in 2016, when an upgraded version was made available. The upgraded Direct Adaptive Steering system followed consultation with Q50 customers around the world and after more than 625,000 miles of on-road testing.
The Q50's available Active Lane Control system works with Direct Adaptive Steering to maximize safety on highways, activating automatically above 45 mph. It uses a camera system to detect the Q50's position on the road and is able to prevent the Q50 from straying from its lane.
Wide range of innovative powertrains and adaptive digital suspension
Award-winning 3.0-liter V6 twin turbo engine produces 300 hp, or 400 hp for Red Sport 400 model grade
Drivers can specify fully-customizable Dynamic Digital Suspension, with choice of rear-wheel or Intelligent All-Wheel drive
In addition to such driver support technologies such as Direct Adaptive Steering, innovative engine, chassis and drivetrain technologies enable the Q50 sports sedan to deliver an empowering and rewarding drive.
The Q50 can be equipped with the award-winning 3.0-liter V6 twin turbo engine from the new VR powertrain family. The new engine offers increased power and torque while maintaining high levels of efficiency, and it has been named one of Ward's 10 Best Engines for 2017 - one of the highest global accolades in engine technology development.
For the Red Sport 400 model grade, the high-output version of the power unit delivers 400 hp at 6,400 rpm and 350 lb-ft maximum torque from 1,600 to 5,200 rpm. The 300 hp version delivers peak power at 6,400 rpm, producing 295 lb-ft torque across a wide 1,600-5,200 rpm range.
Another Q50 powertrain option includes a 2.0-liter turbocharged, 4-cylinder unit, featuring stop/start technology. The 2.0-liter gasoline engine produces 208 hp at 5,500 rpm, with 258 lb-ft peak torque from 1,250 rpm.
The final powertrain option is INFINITI's Direct Response Hybrid(R) system, featuring a 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC aluminum-alloy V6 and a compact laminated lithium-ion battery. The system's V6 is rated at 302 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the advanced 50 kW electric motor is rated at 67 hp and 213 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid system's combined power output of 360 hp provides strong acceleration and lean fuel economy.
As standard, Q50 models equipped with the 3.0-liter V6 twin turbo engine feature INFINITI's Rack Electronic Power Steering, for a linear and in-control driving experience that can also be tuned through the Drive Mode Selector. 2.0-liter Q50 models are equipped with a vehicle speed-sensitive hydraulic electronic rack-and-pinion power steering system as standard.
In 2016, the Q50 was the first INFINITI model to feature Dynamic Digital Suspension, combining enhanced ride comfort with direct handling responses and agility. Dynamic Digital Suspension is aided by electronic and adaptive dampers, and - as with Direct Adaptive Steering - drivers can customize the settings through the Drive Mode Select. As standard, the Q50 features independent multi-link suspension, now providing an improved balance between confident handling and a comfortable ride. The new Q50 benefits from revised front and rear stabilizer bars, improving the ability of the chassis to resist lateral suspension movement, resulting in a flatter ride and greater agility during cornering.
The Q50 can be configured with one of two drivetrain options - rear-wheel drive or Intelligent All-Wheel Drive.
Launch schedule
The Q50 is produced at INFINITI's manufacturing facility in Tochigi, Japan, and will go on sale across global markets from second quarter of the 2017 calendar year.
Please note: All product information contained in this press kit relates to global Q50 information, released at the 2017 Geneva International Motor Show, including technical specifications, powertrains and standard/optional equipment and features. Please contact your country's INFINITI PR office for product details relevant to your market.
About INFINITI
INFINITI Motor Company Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with representations in 50 markets around the world. The INFINITI brand was launched in 1989. Its range of premium automobiles is currently built in manufacturing facilities in Japan, the United States, United Kingdom and China. INFINITI plans to also expand manufacturing into Mexico by 2017.
INFINITI design studios are located in Atsugi-Shi near Yokohama, London, San Diego and Beijing.
INFINITI is in the middle of a major product offensive. The brand has been widely acclaimed for its daring design and innovative driver-assistance technologies.
From the 2016 season, INFINITI is a technical partner of the Renault Sport Formula One team, contributing its expertise in hybrid performance.
More information about INFINITI and its industry leading technologies can be found at www.INFINITI.com. You can also follow INFINITI on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube.