Like any after-school special will tell us, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
Infiniti revealed Monday its refreshed Q50, complete with three turbocharged engines in varying levels of potency. The new VR-series engine, which will be replacing Nissan’s everlasting VQ-series engine first in the Q50, will be a twin-turbocharged 3-liter V-6 that produces 300 horsepower and 400 horsepower in two different tunes.
The base mill in the Q50 will be Mercedes’ turbo four, lifted from the Q30, which makes 208 horsepower. Oh yeah, and there’s a refresh for the QX60 too.
The headliner in the trio of turbocharged engines is the more-potent 400 horsepower turbo V-6 that’ll almost certainly be planted in Infiniti’s Q60 sports coupe, which will debut in Detroit as well.
The new VR-series engine will improve where the VQ left off — direct injection, improved cooling, aluminum-alloy block — and is Infiniti’s first use of the engine (the GT-R uses a VR-series variant.)
Infiniti will use the 400-horsepower variant in its aggressively named Q50 Red Sport 400 model, seen above, but stopped short of calling it a direct competitor to the AMG, M Division or S-series cars of the world because then it wouldn’t be able to claim the following:
Offering the highest standard horsepower in class (non-specialty version), the engine is the most advanced V6 ever offered by Infiniti.
OK.
The 400 horsepower and 300 horsepower versions of the Q50 will go on sale in the spring, and the base 2-liter turbo four Q50 will go on sale next winter. Infiniti said it would make available a hybrid powertrain, with 350 net horsepower, later in the year.
In addition to the new power plants, Infiniti says the Q50 will sport an upgraded suspension, Direct Adaptive Steering, 19-inch wheels and a new front fascia.
According to the automaker, the 2016 QX60 will automatically hit the brakes before you hit something or someone. And: “Additional details will be available closer to when the 2016 QX60 arrives in Infiniti showrooms in late winter.”
Infiniti, Nissan’s “Arch Deluxe”.
The Q60 sedan (that you’ll see soon) looks better.
The Q60 will be a coupe—like the outgoing one—not a sedan.
Did I stutter? Q60 SEDAN is on the way, along with the coupe.
That’s rich coming from a Honda/Acura fan.
Honda-fanboy, Infiniti is increasing power outputs with turbos and seeing improved fuel economy. How about that?
“The base mill in the Q50 will be Mercedes’ turbo four, lifted from the Q30, which makes 208 horsepower. Oh yeah, and there’s a refresh for the QX60 too.”
Now there’s some cross-brand pollination I wasn’t aware of, or, a typo.
Planned for a while.
Nissan, calling itself Infiniti, has been churning out the Mercedes 2.0 turbo since June 26/14, at their Decherd TN plant. The majority go into the Mercedes C Class assembled in Alabama, but the excess has already gone into Q50s worldwide for a year now. Capacity is about 250 K a year.
http://infinitinews.com/en-US/infiniti/usa/releases/infiniti-decherd-powertrain-plant-begins-assembly-of-2-0l-turbo-engines-for-infiniti-q50-and-mercedes-benz-c-class
And the QX30 is a restyled Mercedes GLA, while the new Smart car is a Renault Twingo with a wheelbase chop.
Name all of the problems with this statement:
Nissan’s Japanese luxury brand Infiniti is building a model in Tennessee, USA, with a Mercedes turbo engine.
Lol. The problems in that sentence start with that it has words in it!
I don’t for the life of me understand the logic. Mercedes is terrible at 4 cylinders, and the new one is no exception.
“Mercedes is terrible at 4 cylinders, and the new one is no exception.”
It sure seems like it in the tin can CLA. Now go and drive a new C Class with the same engine, made by Infiniti, and you won’t even recognize it. It’s extremely smooth and very quiet.
As for whether Mercedes is bad at 4 cylinders, name me an actual bad 4 cylinder engine they designed. There aren’t many to choose from if you forget about the diesels.
“The new VR-series engine, which will be replacing Nissan’s everlasting VQ-series engine first in the Q50, will be a twin-turbocharged 3-liter V-6 that produces 300 horsepower and 400 horsepower in two different tunes.”
Right, so kill your best ever engine line, while at the same time going turbo route. Oh also, make sure now that your base engine is 4-cylinder rather than 6. Great success.
My conservative and reliable thought would be to try out some variations of the VR first and make sure they don’t f*ck up, THEN add turbos.
And now Red Sport is in place of Eau Rouge? (Improvement, I guess.) The Q50’s interior looks fine (liking the contrast piping), but the center console bulge around the gear shift is very odd.
CoreyDL, the VR engine in the Nissan GTR is capable of handling amazing levels of tuning without destruction. >1000hp.
http://switzerperformanceinnovation.com/web_en/2013/02/04/exploring-the-limits-nissan-vr38/
The VR38DETT has been used and abused in the GTR since 2007.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_VR_engine
Making a smaller, less powerful VR engine available to the Q50 looks like a positive move to me.
I’m glad the VR in the GTR is reliable, but those ones are made in a lab with special Nissan JDM-caring sauce, which will not get poured over the mass market models, I fear.
Lol.
Corey, I need help understanding. Did you read the Ward’s Ten Best Article the other day? TTAC hates the VQ. NVH monster, only 285 hp, the horror!
I personally think the VQ is pretty great, but most commentators around here seem to think it is trash. I mean, its no 3800, but they are decent to me.
I think it’s fine. I just like to irritate Corey.
I ain’t mad!
Lol, I know people like to trash it, but it IS reliable and it DOES make a good amount of HP. The NA 3.7 in the Infinitis now is up to what, 365?
Yes it’s a bit harsh.
Yes it uses too much premium.
No, it doesn’t need dropping.
No, not all Infiniti models need turbo-ing.
The best VQ was a while ago though, the 3.0. I’d be much more willing to accept VR as replacement if it didn’t have turbo.
Here’s the problem though: they are replacing much of the VQ volume with that Mercedes 2.0T. The VQ may be rough in some applications, but the Mercedes 2.0T is so much worse.
I’ve actually been looking at local listings with the AT equipped G25x. Same great looks, same feature content, and its not like I can regularly uncork the VQ37 in my daily commute. Sadly, they are not much cheaper then equally nice G37x.
Hopefully the new vr will not sound like a cylinder is blown like the current vq. Nissan had to update their engine lineup. As long as they do not put them to that great Nissan cvt. All is well. MB four banger could be a selling feature for the average Infiniti/Nissan buyer.
My question about the VR is whether it will still have the nails-on-chalkboard sound of the VQ.
Sure, it’s versatile, reliable, and pretty punchy — I’ll probably own a VQ-powered CUV 2-3 years from now — but I really don’t like the sound.
Boy racer sound coming out of a pseudo luxury vehicle always makes for a great automobile. If I had to drive a sedan. I would take a Maxima over an over priced Nissan/Infiniti. I would get a lot less laughs.
@ davefromcalgary
Was out in Calgary in early October. Brother has a 2009 G37 AWD, most reliable car he has ever owned. Not a thing gone wrong. The 3.7 VQ has hardly to be stirred beyond 3000 rpm for decent progress, so noise has never been a factor and it seems plenty smooth. Boot it from 50 klicks and the resultant noise lasts for about six seconds until you’re way illegal anyway with a silly grin on your face.
In any case, feeling he had to get something newer, we took out a new Mercedes C Class 4Matic with 4 cylinder. It’s perceptibly a smoother and quieter car up to 120 klicks, but doesn’t have the suspension/body solidity on bad potholes on off-ramps that the Infiniti has, and the interior “leather” was nowhere near as nice as the old G37. Overall, he found no reason to change. He never buys the same car twice, so hasn’t considered the Q50.
I think the 3.7 VQ is quieter and smoother than the 3.5 version, and if you go back and read about it on C/D, they made the block casting “higher” and used longer connecting rods to quell the shakes. It also has completely variable valve timing and lift for throttle control. You don’t get that in the cheapy 3.5.
The general criticism here on the VQ is about on par with the opinions I read 99,000 times here on the 2.5l VW 5 cylinder.
VQ is less than great in the modern era. BMW’s I6TT delivers more performance and fuel economy and is not much more complex. And the VR is in the GT-R so it’s already been vetted. VR is based on the VQ so it will live on in spirit. VQ is as old as dirt… unless they can fit direct injection on it it’s time to put it to pasture.
They could double sales of the 4-cylinder model by using a SR20 valve cover.
Lol, Q50 SR (with SR in red). That would work.
Couldn’t they offer a version of the 3.8 V6 without a turbo? Like just for fun or something.
Typically, 3.8L NA V6 engines have been known to be winning.
Don’t forget that for every 3800 there is a 6G75.
“Like any after-school special will tell us, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.”
Becasue on the outside it looks more jiggly than a jello mold.
I’d pass on the turbo 4, but the 300 and 400hp turbo sixes could be interesting.
Part of the appeal of Infiniti for me has been the reliability of the G37, and the new engines may jeopardize that. The other appeal was the frankly impressive powertrain performance given the price. The 2.0t will probably be a big step backwards there, so I’d want the 300hp turbo six in a car like the Q50. Curious as to how the pricing will compare to the current 3.7 equipped car.
The 400 turbo six needs to go into Z!
If I was a betting man I would guess this new turbo would be just fine. As mentioned the bones of this engine have been around forever, boosted Z are pretty common as the previous engines were workhorses. The GT-R (Godzilla) proves Nissan can do this… well as long this doesn’t include some stupid “launch control” option.
The exterior still basically looks like the Pre-2016 (2013-2015) Nissan Altima, which borrowed from looks from Infiniti [or was it vice versa].
It might finally be time for me to get a new car. I wonder if you can get the red sport in black or white?
Does direct adaptive steering mean steer by wire, or not steer by wire?
I guess I should probably wait a model year or two to make sure they don’t self destruct.
Flaw: This looks so Nissan which means you can spend a lot more money than on a Nissan only to have people assume you’re just another overspending nouveau-employed token minority with a FICO under 500 and/or military.
+100
You just described the Infiniti buyer. In fact if there was a Wikipedia page for the Infiniti driver it would have your post.
It’s red, bulbous, ungainly and generally hideous -just like most other Infinities (Infinitum?) and herpes sores.
1) Finally!
2) They of course didn’t mention the most important thing, the prices for each trim. I assume the 2.0T will basically replace the aborted G25. Hopefully the pricing for the ‘mild’ 3.0T doesn’t exceed the current 3.7. Does the ‘hot’ version cost near M or AMG money or are they going balls out to roast the plebeian 340i?
3) 208 hp with turbo torque can be great in a 3,000 pound car. I’m skeptical about that same engine in a “sporty” 3,400 pound Q50. I knew Toyota’s 2.0T would be tuned conservatively. I thought Nissan might spice up the Mercedes unit.
4) 300 hp and 295 lb-ft is pretty weaksauce for a 3.0T that’s just arriving in 2016 (especially that peak torque). Yes it will have gobs more torque all over the place than the high revving NA 3.7, but I’m just surprised by that number. It has 50% more displacement than the 2.0T Mercedes unit in the base trim. It makes 44% more horsepower. It only makes 19% more torque. I guess they are just optimizing for the flattest (and earliest) curve possible vs. peak torque, but I assumed they’d belt out at least another 30 lb-ft.
5) Red Sport 400 is a retarded name for the performance trim. “Here’s my brown Red Sport 400.” Rolls right off the tongue.
6) What happened to their garbage IPL trim?
7) Does the 7 speed still hunt for gears as much as it used to in the FX?
8) The million dollar question, are the internals the same on the 300 hp and 400 hp version? A sub $40K Q50 that could be flashed to 400 hp would be pretty bueno.
The 400hp version has two water pumps, so I’m guessing not.
I like what Nissan is doing here. They aren’t violating any internal design traditions…the RB26DETT was an ICE tour-de-force and a legend in it’s own right. As a former 4G63 tweaker, I’m here to tell you that turbochargers are not the devil…
However, the irony is delicious. If anyone cares to remember, it was Infiniti that kept poking BMW, quite aggressively as I recall, about its supposed horsepower deficits back in the day. BMW ultimately responded, quite aggressively as I recall, with the N54 and in the process caught Nissan short. WAY short as it turns out, for way too long.
Bottom line: I, for one, welcome our new turbocharged overlords.
Hideous (inside and out), wart-like Infinities, built in the U.S., complete with POS Mercedes 4 banger hamster mill engines = priceless.