New Infiniti Q60 Coupe here inside two months

Infiniti Australia will replace its slow-selling Q60 Coupe, a rebadged version of the long-running G37 Coupe, in November – within two months of its global launch in California last week.

The new Q60 Coupe will initially land with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, followed by a flagship 298kW twin-turbo V6 by May next year.

Infiniti is yet to reveal Australian specification or pricing for the new Q60, but the sporty mid-size luxury coupe is expected to be priced from around $64,000.

That will be in line with its predecessor and chief competitors including the Audi A5, BMW 4 Series, Lexus RC and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe.

The Q60 will be offered only in coupe for this time, with Infiniti announcing it has killed the convertible owing to slow sales.

Apart from its new V6, highlights of the redesigned medium coupe will be digital suspension and steering, as well as an extensive suite of infotainment and electronic driver safety aids.

Base variants of the Q60 will offer a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol making 155kW/350Nm. The direct-injected unit is said to consume 9.8L/100km and emit 154g/km of CO2.

Globally, the model will also be offered with Infiniti’s new lightweight VR-series 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol six-cylinder engine available in two states of tune: 224kW/400Nm or 298kW/475Nm, and with the choice of rear- or all-wheel drive.

While the low-output V6 and all-wheel drive are now available here in Infiniti's Q50 sedan, Australia's Q60 will be offered only with the more powerful V6 in conjunction with rear-wheel drive and a seven-speed automatic transmission.

The combination consumes 10.7L/100km and emits 206g/km of CO2, and is capable of accelerating 0-60mph (97km/h) in 4.6 sec, making it about as quick as BMW’s 440i Coupe.

The Q60 rides on a lower and wider version of the Nissan 370Z's FM platform and Infiniti says the aggressive stance of its new coupe allows higher lateral G-forces. It rides on 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels, and is more aerodynamic than the outgoing Q60 (0.28Cd), thanks in part to active grille shutters and functional fender vents.

Technology highlights include LED headlights with Light Guide Technology, in-cabin Active Noise Cancelling, a personalisable InTuition dual-pane infotainment array, 13-speaker BOSE Performance Series audio, 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, lane-departure prevention, blind-spot monitoring and reverse collision protection.

“It’s a majorly important segment for Infiniti, since it’s a very emotional and performance oriented segment,” explained Infiniti's global executive design director, Alfonso Albaisa.

“We researched a lot of what made the original Q35 so successful back in 2002, and it’s that blend of design and performance we’ve taken up to the limit with the third-generation Q60.”

Visit motoring.com.au again on October 3 for our first drive of the all-new Q60 Coupe from the international launch in San Diego, California this week.