Infiniti revamps Q50 range

Infiniti has announced a subtly revised Q50 range for the 2018 model year, with the highlight being the mid-size sedan's migration to 'second-generation' Direct Adaptive Steering.

According to Infiniti, the sophisticated steering system transmits driver input faster than a conventional mechanical system and can make up to 1000 steering adjustments every second, saving the driver from constant course corrections. The company states that the steering eliminates the worst excesses of steering feedback – in the form of kickback or vibration.

The diesel variant has been dropped for the Australian market, after sales had halved – from four per cent to just two per cent of the Q50's total volume. Infiniti has sold over 900 units of Q50 in Australia over the past three years.

On-going models feature revised front and rear aprons, restyled alloy wheel designs, and new sports steering wheel and gearshift lever. The Q50 GT now rides on 18-inch alloy wheels, rather than the 17-inch wheels fitted previously. Ambient lighting is now standard in the mid-range Sport Premium and flagship Red Sport models. This feature illuminates the footwells, cupholders and door handles.

For the range-topping Q50 Red Sport, the seats have been resculptured with a different density of foam in the cushioning and are now upholstered in quilted leather and red stitching. As for the other Q50 variants, the Red Sport gains redesigned steering wheel and gearshift lever, but also adopts LED tail lights, a new design of 19-inch alloy wheel finished in dark chrome, and red brake calipers. A new hero colour exclusive to the Q50 Red Sport is Sunstone Red.

Mechanically, the Q50 GT carries on with the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 155kW and 350NM, driving through a seven-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels. Fuel consumption is rated at 7.3L/100km in combined-cycle testing.

V6 models comprise the 3.0-litre twin-turbo engine in two states of tune, and the 3.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine in the hybrid application.

Offered as an alternative to the four-cylinder and hybrid variants, the twin-turbo V6 available in the mid-range Sport Premium grade develops 224kW and 400Nm, for a fuel consumption rating of 9.2L/100km.

The hybrid powertrain (219kW, 350Nm and 6.8L/100km) is only available as an option for the Q50 Sport Premium. Total output, combining engine and electric motor units, is 268kW and 546Nm. Infiniti offers the Q50 hybrid in either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive form. The higher-output 298kW and 475Nm twin-turbo V6 (9.3L/100km) is reserved for the Q50 Red Sport.

Standard active safety features for the Q50 include Lane Departure Prevention/Warning, Blind Spot Intervention/Warning, Backup Collision Intervention, Moving Object Detection, Around View Monitor, Intelligent Cruise Control/Distance Control Assist and Forward Emergency Braking/Predictive Forward Collision Warning.

Comfort and convenience features fitted to the Q50 GT include LED front headlights, leather upholstery and digital radio (DAB+). The Q50 Sport Premium moves up to 19-inch alloy wheels from the base-grade's 18-inch alloys, and gains sports body kit, BOSE premium audio system, leather-upholstered sports seats, a glass sunroof and transmission shift paddles. For the Q50 Red Sport, standard equipment comprises a black rear spoiler, black headlining and adaptive suspension.

Colours for the MY18 Q50 range are: Iridium Blue (N/A GT), Dynamic Sunstone Red (Red Sport only), Midnight Black, Liquid Platinum, Graphite Shadow, Black Obsidian, Chestnut Bronze, Majestic White, Pure White and Hagane Blue.

Infiniti anticipates the volume-selling model in the range will be the Q50 GT on 45 per cent, narrowly outselling the mid-range Sport Premium models (40 per cent) but tripling the 15 per cent for the Q50 Red Sport.

ANCAP rates the Q50 at five stars for crash safety, but the date stamp applicable to the four-cylinder models is 2014, whereas all V6 models are rated in accordance with the current (2017) ANCAP testing protocol, due to revised AEB software introduced this year.

Infiniti is offering the Q50 with a four-year or 100,000km warranty. The service intervals are 15,000km for the V6 models or 25,000km for the four-cylinder variants, powered by Mercedes-Benz engines. A fixed-price servicing contract for the V6 models costs $1290 over the three years.

Prices are unchanged for the V6 models, but the four-cylinder GT – the entry-level variant – has risen by $1000, and the four-cylinder Sport Premium has risen by $500. The updated models are already on sale and the prices are as follows:

Q50 GT 2.0t – $54,900
Q50 Sport Premium 2.0t – $62,400
Q50 Sport Premium 3.0t – $70,400
Q50 Sport Premium 3.5h RWD – $73,400
Q50 Sport Premium 3.5h AWD – $75,400
Q50 Red Sport 3.0t – $79,900