GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Mercedes power for new Infiniti mid-sizer

A range of Mercedes-Benz designed and built direct-injected petrol and turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines will help power Infiniti's tilt at the volume end of the prestige market.

Unveiled at this week’s Geneva motor show, Euro versions of the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class targeting Q50 will feature a blend of existing Nissan engineered powerplants plus new Daimler-sourced engines. The offering will be based on market preference.

Senior Infiniti and Nissan personnel confirmed Australia will get a blend of petrol and turbo-diesel powertrains when the new Q50 arrives Down Under later this year.

This will mean four- and six-cylinder petrol engines plus four-cylinder turbo-diesels. All four-cylinder engines will be based on Mercedes designs.

In Europe, the rear-wheel drive Q50 range will be spearheaded by the 2.2d unveiled in Geneva yesterday. The new model features a 135kW/400Nm version of Mercedes’ 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four, and is claimed to consume just 4.4L/100km and emit less than 115g/km of CO2 while accelerating to 100km/h in nine seconds.

In addition, European markets will be offered a Nissan-based 3.5-litre V6 petrol-electric hybrid version of the Q50. Infiniti says the Q50 Hybrid, which is a direct rival for the Lexus IS300h also revealed at Geneva, will accelerate to 100km/h in less than 5.5 seconds and emit less than 145g/km of CO2.

The Q50 V6 hybrid will also be offered in the US, however, so too will be four-cylinder turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engines sourced from Mercedes-Benz.

Both turbo-diesel and turbo-petrol fours will come Down Under. It seems Australia will therefore be one of the few markets (at least initially) that gets a largely Benz-powered Q50 range.

The Q50 is key to Infiniti's expansion in Europe, says Infiniti global boss Johan de Nysschen.

"Q50 is a significant step towards [Infiniti] becoming a global player in the prestige market. Its [Q50] success [will determine] permanent membership in the club of exclusive premium brands," Mr de Nysschen stated.

Infiniti and Daimler's cooperation will extend beyond the supply of engines for the Q50. Infiniti will commence production of a premium compact car built on Mercedes' MFA front-drive platform at Nissan's Sunderland (UK) plant in 2015. The same platform is used for Mercedes' A-, B- and CLA-Class models.

Infiniti's Q50 was unveiled at the Detroit motor show in January. First media drives of the car will take place in the middle of 2013.

For our full coverage head to motoring.com.au for the latest Geneva motor show news

Photo gallery of 2013 Geneva motor show at motoring.com.au

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