Infiniti is said to be expanding their model lineup in coming years, with a range of new passenger cars and CUVs. But the company is so hungry for a compact crossover, right now, that they aren’t even waiting for the upcoming QX30.
Based on the Nismo version of the Nissan Juke, the ESQ will be a low-volume, China-only product, for Chinese consumers who are foaming at the mouth to get their hands on any small, two-box vehicle with a raised ride height and a premium badge. Evidently, there’s quite a few of them, and Nissan should profit handsomely off of this product.
Carnewschina is reporting that the Juke-based ESQ will be priced between $32,000 and $49,000 USD, and that this is the first in a sub-brand lineup of ESQ cars targeted at young luxury buyers. Given that Nissan is selling a vehicle that sells for $23,000-$26,000 in the USA for nearly twice the cost, you can hardly blame their motives – or wonder what other products are in store for the ESQ lineup.
I see that Nissan grasshopper has learned the art of badge engineering from their American masters. Well done grasshopper fool
Aside from the BOF SUVs, what the Americans do nowadays is platform sharing and not badge engineering.
You know, make those big fog lamps a little smaller, and fill in the area with grille instead – and you have… a Kia.
Even the Cadillac Cimarron wasn’t this cynical. Then again, Acura seems to be flogging the ILX with little trouble, so maybe the next-gen Juke (ugh, who buys these?) will have an Infiniti twin stateside, too.
I can see it now: The QX20 1.6, starting at $29,995. And it will be their biggest seller ever. RIP Infiniti.