Automotive News [sub] dug through Infiniti’s patent filings, and came up with an unexpected find: a filing that reserves the terms “Infiniti Performance Line” and “IPL” to market
the brand’s use of “high-performance motor vehicle parts,” including turbochargers and superchargers for engines, cat-back exhaust and muffler systems, shifter knobs, suspension parts, brakes, sports seats and off-road headlights.
It’s an idea as old as marketing itself, and a leap that more and more Japanese luxury brands have been belatedly taking, with an eye firmly set on AMG and M-Division-inspired profit margins. In fact, it’s odd that the traditionally more driver-oriented Infiniti brand was beaten to this punch several years ago by the more comfort-oriented Lexus brand’s “F” line. Infiniti has already hinted that a “a new performance-oriented offering” will be revealed this summer, meaning the IPL’s IPO is more than likely on a short timeline.
Actually, we did:
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/24/infiniti-performance-line-ipl-is-coming-this-year/
Automotive News isn’t fond of citing original sources.
Here’s the original patent filing:
http://www.trademarkia.com/ipl-77941253.html
“In fact, it’s odd that the traditionally more driver-oriented Infiniti brand was beaten to this punch several years ago by the more comfort-oriented Lexus brand’s “F” line.”
Not really, when you consider how well supported Infiniti/Nissan models have been by a whole host of aftermarket suppliers. I really don’t think Toyota enjoys the same level of support that Nissan does.
I don’t understand Nissan. If they want their North America only luxury/sport brand to succeed they need to give them access to their better cars such as the 370Z and GT-R and not just a warmed over Skyline. While bolting a turbo or two to a G37 shows promise, they will need more than that to be competitive in this segment.
Isn’t that just an S from an Acura TL or CL Type S that someone glued on the back of this car to try to fool those who don’t know any better? That S looks familiar to me…
That S may come from the trunk lid of a Toyota Corolla.
Yep, I think you nailed it. I knew I had seen that S before!
Actually it looks like an S from a G35 or G37 Sport. I have a G35 sport and just went and looked at the S on my car. However, they do not make a G35x sport to my knowledge. The sport is available in rear drive only.
Actually Infinity did make a G35XS. It added bigger wheels, a spoiler, a stiffened suspension, and paddle shifters to the standard AWD car. I think it came out in 2008, only a few months after I bought my 2007.
I was bummed I didn’t wait for the S model.
-ted
Would be nice if they lightened them up some. Wouldn’t need all that extra power and it would handle better too.
A little more convoluted in the US, but the S does come from the Infiniti factory based on what option package you buy. My friend (I’m in Canada) just bought a new G37 S. He is now waiting for the IPL bolt on bits to come out. His comment is they are something like rebranded NISMO parts.
To put it into context that I can understand, he said similar to JCW parts for my MINI.