New nameplates for Infiniti

Infiniti has revealed a new model naming strategy that will see all future vehicle nameplates start with the letter ‘Q’.

The replacement for the mid-size G sedan will be the first Infiniti model to bear the new nomenclature, and will emerge at the Detroit motor show on January 14 wearing the Q50 badge.

Nissan’s luxury brand says that from the 2014 model year all of its cars (including sedans, coupes and convertibles) will carry the new Q prefix, while future crossover and SUV models will wear nameplates beginning with QX.

Each model variant will be further identified by a double digit “representing hierarchy within the range”, but as evidenced by the Q50 nameplate the numbers will have no relationship to engine capacity.

Infiniti said that while a range of next-generation models which will carry Q and QX badging from the outset, its new nomenclature strategy will be implemented across its existing model range in the months after the Q50’s release as MY14 models arrive.

While the replacement for Infiniti’s volume-selling G sedan, which goes on sale in the US in July, will morph into the Q50, the G37 coupe and convertible (which have just been launched in Australia), will be renamed the Q60 and the large M sedan will become known as the Q70.

Meantime, Infiniti's EX crossover will become the QX50, the FX crossover will be changed to the QX70 and the full-sized 5.6-litre V8-powered QX56 SUV, will become the QX80. Currently only the FX is sold in Australia.

Despite being released earlier this year in the US, where it has become Infiniti’s second biggest selling model, the smaller JX crossover will change its name to the QX60 from next year.

Hong Kong-based Infiniti says its new model naming policy harks back to its original Q45 and “reflects Infiniti’s desire for clarity and cohesiveness as it embarks on ambitious growth plans, including significant expansion of the Infiniti portfolio”.

It said the new model naming strategy symbolises a new direction for the Japanese premium brand under the leadership of global president Johan de Nysschen, who pre-empted such a change in an interview with motoring.com.au at Infiniti’s Australian launch in September.

At the time, Mr de Nysschen, a former MD of Audi in the US and Japan, said he was weeks away from presenting his blueprint for Infiniti to global Nissan-Renault boss Carlos Ghosn.

He indicated the plan could include a direct rival for BMW’s M and Mercedes’ AMG performance divisions and a family of all-new small cars from 2014 previewed by the Etherea concept, based on Mercedes’ MFA platform and likely to include hatchback, sedan and crossover models.

“Over the past few months, we have talked at length with our retailers, our customers and our business partners about our brand,” said Mr de Nysschen as part of today’s naming announcement.

“The need for a new identity and direction to promote consumer familiarity with our model range as we expand the portfolio became evident. To achieve this, we clearly needed a simple and consistent nomenclature framework.

“After exhaustive research and evaluation, we concluded that ‘Q’ captured the inspiration within the next generation of Infiniti models, as well as emphasising our performance credentials while harking back to our heritage with the Q45 – Infiniti’s first iconic flagship product in 1989.”

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