Infiniti confirms M5 rival

Infiniti plans to introduce a 400kW-plus flagship sports sedan that will compete directly with Germany’s finest four-door V8s, including the BMW’s M5 and the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.

The shock news was revealed by Infiniti Motor Company President, Johan de Nysschen, who yesterday took to Facebook to explain the Japanese premium brand’s surprising new model naming structure announced by the earlier this week.

As we’ve reported, all future Infiniti model names will begin with the letter Q, starting with the replacement for the mid-size G sedan to be revealed at the Detroit motor show in January, which will be called the Q50 and is due on sale in Australia late next year.

In turn, the replacement for Infiniti's existing G Coupe and Convertible, which has just been launched in Australia, will wear the Q60 badge, while next-generation large M sedan will be renamed the Q70 when it appears in 2014.

SUV and crossover model names, meantime, will wear the QX prefix from next year, with EX to become the QX50, the JX to be called the QX60, the FX (the only Infiniti SUV available in Australia so far) to be rebadged as the QX70 and, even more confusingly, the range-topping Nissan Patrol-based QX56 to be relaunched as the QX80.

In an attempt to explain the radical new nameplate convention, which no longer includes numbers to designate the engine variant, Mr de Nysschen effectively revealed that the replacement for the current M large sedan would come with a range-topping force-fed 3.0-litre V6 that delivers in excess of 550hp (412kW).

“Our new advanced technology engines under development will be smaller, lighter, more fuel efficient yet more powerful, and we will introduce some exhilarating performance machines in the future,” revealed Mr de Nysschen on Facebook.

“I'm sure you will agree, it would be a bit odd to have a powerful, luxurious and refined V8-powered Infiniti M56, then position a new high-tech 550-plus horsepower performance flagship for the Infiniti M range above it, using a potent charged induction V6, but then call it Infiniti M30, which we would be obliged to do, following our current naming logic.”

Currently, the BMW 5 Series-size M sedan is available in Australia with 3.7-litre V6 petrol (M37), 3.0-litre diesel (M30d) and petrol-electric (M35h) powertrains, but in North America the line-up is topped by the M56 sports sedan, powered by a 420hp (311kW) 5.6-litre petrol V8.

A forced-induction 3.0-litre petrol V6 delivering more than 412kW would not only eclipse the specific power output of the current M56 and BMW’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo M5 (which happens to deliver precisely 412kW), but also Nissan’s GT-R super-coupe, which employs a twin-turbo 3.8-litre V6 to deliver 404kW.

“We are embarking on a massive product offensive, and these new cars need names,” said Mr de Nysschen by way of further explanation.

“There are no suitable combinations of alphanumeric naming options remaining which are not already trademarked by another auto-maker. In order to expand our line-up with the fascinating new models we are developing, we must create a more flexible nomenclature philosophy.

“Infiniti is becoming a global brand now. We are already active in almost 50 countries, the majority only very recently. Our new customers are unfamiliar with the brand and struggle to understand our range hierarchy. Is a JX above or below an FX? Where does an EX fit? What is the relationship between G and Infiniti M? Research confirms the majority of newcomers to our brand consider the naming to be somewhat arbitrary and confusing.

“Infiniti owns the naming assets of Q plus double digit, and QX plus double digit. And it is a permanent part of our heritage. ??“So the solution is pretty straightforward - use Q for cars, QX for crossovers, and double digits in increments of ten, to denote hierarchy, linked to the price point of the model, not size and not engine displacement. And no, we won’t call all-wheel drive models Q50X or QX50X. The fact that a model may feature four-wheel drive, will be indicated by specific badging describing this feature on the car, and is not part of the model name.

“The really exciting implication of all this, is that it prepares the way for the introduction of several fascinating new models, above and below the current line-up, (and) a wider range of powertrains, including some truly stunning performance cars in our future.

“So there is only good news for all Infiniti fans around the globe. We are working very hard to bring you great products, a great brand and a compelling ownership experience. And we are really confident you will love the new Q50. It's simply that good.”

Infiniti is yet to reveal the name of the all-new compact model that will slot below the G-replacing Q50 and which this week was confirmed for production exclusively in the UK from 2015, but a Q30 badge is the logical conclusion.

Based on the same Mercedes-Benz MFA platform as the B-Class and upcoming A-Class, the smallest Infiniti ever will be a direct rival for the Lexus CT200h, as well as German compacts like the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and the A-Class itself.

Like the latter three Germans, the newest Infiniti – which was previewed by the 2011 Etherea concept – will form the basis of an entirely fresh model family, including hatchback, sedan and crossover derivatives, with Q40 and QX40 likey to grace the latter two models. The latter will be a BMW X1-sized SUV, while - even more confusingly - the Infiniti's mid-size EX will morph into the Audi Q5-rivalling QX50.

While the BMW 3 Series-sized Q50 sedan and Q60 coupe and convertible will continue to be built in Japan, Infiniti announced overnight that its all-new new premium compact car will be manufactured at parent company Nissan’s Sunderland plant in Britain.

The move  follows a $400 million investment that will create capacity of up to 60,000 vehicles per annum as well as 1000 new UK jobs, including 280 at Sunderland.

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