Topic: Preview: 2016 Infiniti Q50

[Autos_Editor]

The 2016 Infiniti Q50 will hit the market in 2016 with three powertrain options, the maker's idea of performance meets efficiency.
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[whaddaiknow]

No comments so far? Strange.
I thought the powertrain options alone would spark a serious discussion.
If the price is right, this Q50 is bound to steal a few glances away from ze Germans and Volvo. I am tempted to have a look at it when it arrives.

[Noto]

the Q50 receives three new powertains; an entry-level 2.0L, turbo four-cylinder engine rated at 208 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque

Odd hp numbers for the base engine...lower than Lexus's in the IS, BMW in the 3-series, or MB's in the C-class.

Also odd is doing a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 that makes 'just' 300hp.

I think they should have gone:
2.0T = 250hp
3.0TT = 350hp or 400hp, depending on tune.
3.5L hybrid = 360hp with better fuel economy than all of the above.

The two lower-most engines seem odd to me.

I thought the powertrain options alone would spark a serious discussion.

Happy? 

[OliverD]

the Q50 receives three new powertains; an entry-level 2.0L, turbo four-cylinder engine rated at 208 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque

Odd hp numbers for the base engine...lower than Lexus's in the IS, BMW in the 3-series, or MB's in the C-class.

It's 208 hp because that engine is straight out of the CLA/GLA/B.

[bluelines]

Lower than the 328i, but the 320i is only 180hp. Maybe it will be priced at the same level?

the Q50 receives three new powertains; an entry-level 2.0L, turbo four-cylinder engine rated at 208 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque

Odd hp numbers for the base engine...lower than Lexus's in the IS, BMW in the 3-series, or MB's in the C-class.

Also odd is doing a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 that makes 'just' 300hp.

I think they should have gone:
2.0T = 250hp
3.0TT = 350hp or 400hp, depending on tune.
3.5L hybrid = 360hp with better fuel economy than all of the above.

The two lower-most engines seem odd to me.

I thought the powertrain options alone would spark a serious discussion.

Happy? 

[wing]

   2016 Q50 adds trio ofnew powerful and efficient turbocharged engines, including a 400-horsepower 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6

[dougjp]

The pic under the bridge, that's what I call red! Slathered with oil? Multi layers of wax or porcelain? Just kidding, professional photography and lighting helps a lot.

Anyway, this car sort of fell off people's radar because the steering was bad and other things like the hybrid/gas transition lacked smoothness, and "suspension". A local dealer has had a 2014 hybrid in used inventory forever. It keeps tempting me but there are too many minuses. Glad to hear they are improving steering and suspension.

However easily the biggest disappointment for me is changing the best part of the car, the 328 HP base 3.7L engine which also happens to sound great. To substitute a 208 HP engine for that, even if it has "some" torque, is not going to fool anyone if the price doesn't drop substantially (and it probably won't).   

[PJ]

Nice looking car though.  Could use some more colour or style on the interior but not bad for Nissan.

[hemusbull]

Infinity makes a very good favour to the highest displacement. And the looser is the turbo 4 which is a good sign IMO. I don't see better fuel efficiency or higher reliability of small displacement turbo, the lag aside...

[CanuckS2K]

Looks like I purchased the wrong year Q50!  A 400 hp family sedan sure sounds good to me!   

[rrocket]

Looks like I purchased the wrong year Q50!  A 400 hp family sedan sure sounds good to me!   

Would the wife care if the car had 400HP though?

[CanuckS2K]

Looks like I purchased the wrong year Q50!  A 400 hp family sedan sure sounds good to me!   

Would the wife care if the car had 400HP though?

Not one ounce.......but I would the few times I would drive it!   

[rrocket]

Looks like I purchased the wrong year Q50!  A 400 hp family sedan sure sounds good to me!   

Would the wife care if the car had 400HP though?

Not one ounce.......but I would the few times I would drive it!   

All those ponies might be wasted then.  A pony is a terrible thing to waste.   

[chignectohead]

"According to the manufacturer, this electronic system’s input is actually faster than a traditional, mechanical one."

Well, if you can hypnotize yourself into believing that a normal steering gear, mechanically connected from steering wheel, through the shaft to the rack, itself connected to the steering knuckles on the front axle hubs, can be slower than some fly-by-wire system acting on solenoid actuators after interpreting tiny steering wheel movements from a potentiometer, then sure.

Man, as a mechanical engineer, I just get so annoyed with the utter BS we get fed by PR nitwitz.

Although maybe Nissan normally uses large rubber chunks to join the steering wheel to the shaft. That would explain the euphoria of the Nissan development engineers for FBW steering,

[ArticSteve]

However easily the biggest disappointment for me is changing the best part of the car, the 328 HP base 3.7L engine which also happens to sound great. To substitute a 208 HP engine for that, even if it has "some" torque, is not going to fool anyone if the price doesn't drop substantially (and it probably won't).

^^^

[Benhaze]

BMW was usually not criticized for its 335i having "only" 300 HP although it finally felt it needed to bump up the HP thanks to the competition and here comes the 340i. I think Infiniti offering 300 HP in hopefully a responsive and fuel efficient package and 400 HP without having to step up (again hopefully) to a pricey equivalent of a M3 should be a good strategy.

I am very surprised though that Infiniti chose to stick with its "digital" steering and disappointed it still bundles all the safety techs in one package only.

[OliverD]

I have no doubt that the 300 hp turbo will be quicker than the 3.7L in the real world.  That motor is rough at high rpm where you need to be to be moving quickly.  The new motor has far more torque under the curve with peak hitting essentially right off idle.  Not to mention that 300 is a nice round number, likely to match BMW.  I would not be surprised if the car puts that number down close to the wheels.

It doesn't match BMW now that the 340i has 320 hp.

[Noto]

the Q50 receives three new powertains; an entry-level 2.0L, turbo four-cylinder engine rated at 208 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque

Odd hp numbers for the base engine...lower than Lexus's in the IS, BMW in the 3-series, or MB's in the C-class.

It's 208 hp because that engine is straight out of the CLA/GLA/B.

...then why not drop in the engine straight out of the C-class, given the relative size of the Q50 comparatively to the CLA/GLA/B vs C-class?



I do agree that if the 2.0T is priced close to BMW's 320i, then mayhaps it'll be a decent 'upgrade'.

I do not buy the whole dyno vs stated #s argument here.  Marketing is as marketing does, mama always used to say.

[micha]

the Q50 receives three new powertains; an entry-level 2.0L, turbo four-cylinder engine rated at 208 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque

Odd hp numbers for the base engine...lower than Lexus's in the IS, BMW in the 3-series, or MB's in the C-class.

It's 208 hp because that engine is straight out of the CLA/GLA/B.

...then why not drop in the engine straight out of the C-class, given the relative size of the Q50 comparatively to the CLA/GLA/B vs C-class?

Perhaps MB doesn't allow it to prevent competition.. Only allowed to use older engines!?

[Allen]

However easily the biggest disappointment for me is changing the best part of the car, the 328 HP base 3.7L engine which also happens to sound great. To substitute a 208 HP engine for that, even if it has "some" torque, is not going to fool anyone if the price doesn't drop substantially (and it probably won't).

I agree, I have started looking for a new vehicle and this was high on my list, without the 3.7  not likely anymore