What's the news?
Infiniti has given us the full low-down on its Q60 coupé, launched at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Two models will form the initial line-up for a car destined to take on the likes of the BMW 4 Series, Audi A5 and Lexus RC.
Exterior
Infiniti is using all its current signature design flourishes to make the Q60 stand out, although in profile it looks a lot like the G37 it supersedes. However, dramatic swage lines, the 'double-arch' grille (in our opinion, it still looks too much like a cross between the contemporary Mazda and Lexus grilles, presumably not the look Infiniti's designers were aiming for) and crescent-shaped C-pillars team with LED lights and 19-inch wheels to result in a car that's eye-catching, if not exactly beautiful.
Infiniti promises a low centre-of-gravity and slippery aerodynamics, quoting a figure of 0.28Cd on the latter score; indeed, the V6 model has an Active Grille Shutter to balance cooling requirements with fuel economy. Options will include 20-inch alloys in some markets, making this the first Infiniti sports coupé to wear such large rims.
Interior
A 'driver-centric' approach and typically neat 'n' tidy Infiniti dash design with contrast stitching make this 2+2's cabin look inviting, although it's more Infiniti's dedication to reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) that we're pleased about. All Q60s will come with acoustic glass and Active Noise Cancellation, for instance, the latter of these an item which broadcasts a soundwave from the speakers that's the inverse of the collated rumblings of the engine, tyres and wind buffeting the body.
Talking of speakers, the Q60 will have 13 of the beggars, courtesy of a premium Bose Performance Series sound system. Taking command of all the Infiniti's features will be the InTuition infotainment control system, while a raft of active and passive safety tech will also be offered - such as Around View Monitor, Intelligent Cruise Control with Distance Control Assist, Forward Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Braking system, Lane Departure Prevention, Blind Spot Intervention and Backup Collision Intervention.
Mechanicals
Two petrol engines are listed for the Q60 and both are lifted from the Q50 saloon. The first is the 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit, a Mercedes lump, which delivers 211hp at 5,500rpm and 350Nm from just 1,500rpm. No performance or economy stats are forthcoming as yet, but this will be the one to pick if you value parsimony first and foremost.
If you think your Q60 should have the go to match its swoopy looks, however, look no further than the 3.0-litre V6 biturbo, the engine the company has recently announced for the Q50. In the Q60, it delivers 405hp at 6,400rpm and 475Nm across a wide 1,600- to 5,200rpm rev band. Either one of these powerplants is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission as standard.
As ever with an Infiniti, it's not so much the drivetrain that's the concern but the chassis. The Q60 gets both Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS, a fly-by-wire system on the V6 only) and Dynamic Digital Suspension (electronically controlled dampers), with the steering said to be re-tuned to feel more like a conventional rack-and-pinion hydraulic-electric set-up. Shame, really, that Infiniti didn't just use exactly that in the 3.0-litre - and there's no real excuse, as the 2.0 Q60 gets precisely such a steering rack. Here's hoping the DAS has been improved from earlier efforts.
Finally, the Q60 V6 comes with Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD), distributing torque 50:50 between front and rear wheels as required in its default setting. In normal, grippy driving conditions, it defaults to a rear-wheel drive configuration, which is nice.
Anything else?
As ever here in Ireland, any story on a new Infiniti has to be couched in the terms of... we don't actually get Infiniti over here yet. But with the brand's global sales on an upwards curve, and the expansion of products bringing such sensible models as the Q30 and QX30 crossover, it should be sooner rather than later that Infiniti finally makes it to our shores.
Until then, final words on the Q60 go to the company's president, Roland Krüger, who said: "The Infiniti Q60 conveys a powerful elegance through its daring design, and has the performance credentials to match - thanks to next-generation ride and handling technologies and up to 405 horsepower. The Q60 will affirm Infiniti's leadership in the premium sports coupé class."