NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: Larger QX50 short on appeal
Infiniti Australia says no thanks to QX50 and looks instead to the smaller Q30 hatch and QX30 crossoverInfiniti has extended its US-market QX50 crossover in wheelbase and freshened its front fascia in an attempt to extend its production life as well as rouse buyer interest.
The fact is the mid-size luxury SUV has ever found favour among American buyers and Nissan's premium brand hopes providing more QX50 will be the solution.
The bigger new QX50 does not come with improved performance, with its 3.7-litre petrol V6 producing 242kW and 362Nm and working through a seven-speed automatic transmission.
In market terms the QX50 squares up against European competition in the form of the BMW X3 and Audi Q5. But with US market-leader Lexus adding the all-new mid-size NX crossover and now a redesigned RX large SUV, the 2016 QX50 will have more competition than ever.
While Infiniti Australia struggles to find the right model mix, it seems either wise or fortuitous that the extended QX50 will not be made available in Australia.
The company believes its Australian future will be better served by the smaller, more design-composed Q30 hatchback and its SUV derivative, the QX30 crossover.
Both compact models have been confirmed as future additions to Infiniti’s global product range from 2016, along with the new Q60 coupe revealed in concept at January's Detroit show.
The Q30 and QX30 are scheduled to start production this year for North America but won't be ready for launch in Australia until at least late next year.
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