2014 Infiniti Q50 Review

            In case you haven't heard the vehicle beside me is not the infiniti g37. This is an infiniti sport sedan, but a g37 it is not. It may have the same wheelbase same base engine and similar dimensions, but infinity has decided to rename all their vehicles. This now reads as the q50.

          The q50 is the first step in Infinity's plan to rename all their vehicles. All cars will now be queues and all crossovers and sport utilities will be Q X's. Powering the q50 is a choice of two engines. The base engine is the familiar 3.7 liter v6 producing 328 horsepower and 260 nine pound feet of torque. The exact same numbers is found in the 2013 g37. The q50 is also available with a hybrid powertrain that develops a combined 360 horsepower thanks to a 3.5 liter v6 and electric motor. The only transmission available for either engine is a 7-speed automatic, but both regular and hybrid q50s can be had with all-wheel drive or rear wheel drive. Expect the q50 to achieve 20 miles per gallon city and 30 miles per gallon highway for rear wheel drive 3.7 liter v6 models and 29 miles per gallon city and 36 miles per gallon highway for rear-wheel drive hybrid models. The q50 3.7 will begin at 36.700 dollars with the top-of-the-line q50s hybrid all-wheel drive beginning at 48.150 dollars.

        Being a proper luxury car the q50 is available in ten trims with there being eight additional option packages. Borrowing heavily from the infiniti essence concept. The q50 has when infinity calls a double arch front grille as well as LED headlights and LED daytime running lights. Now they say it looks like a human face but I I just don't see. It the new shape is incredibly aerodynamic with a coefficient of drag of just point to six and zero lift front and rear. More importantly though the new q50 looks stunning just look at that beauty.

           Inside the q50 features infinities intuition. Now what this means is all customizable settings for both driver and vehicle are saved via the key. Switch keys and the settings change automatically the sound system in this car is fantastic, BOCES installed 10 speakers which includes a subwoofer in each of the front doors and one in the back parcel shelf. Thankfully most of the hard buttons remain in the center console. So if you're like me prefer it over touch screen system it's easy to navigate. Infinity has also shrunk down the a pillars and beat pillars in this vehicle compared to the outgoing g37 sedan. This allows passengers an easier entry and exit to this vehicle. In the back the q50 easily accommodates an adult passenger but comfort is just merely adequate. The trunk in the regular sedan is 13.5 cubic feet. While the hybrid loses some to its batteries and shrinks down to nine point forty degrees.

            With the current weight similar to that of the g37 sedan, expect straightline performance from the 3.7 liter v6 to be very similar. Many of the driving aspects of this vehicle are customizable. You can pick how much throttle response you want where the shift points are and the steering feel. A conventional rack and pinion power syst system is standard in the q50, but you can upgrade to infinities direct adaptive steering. Now this system has no physical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels when powered. The goal behind it is infiniti says the steering inputs will relate quicker to the steering wheel than a conventional mechanical system. Now I was very skeptical of the system as most are because how can something so artificial work.

           This vehicle comes with all the latest and safety technology which includes active lane control. Now this uses cameras to keep the q50 in its Lane and takes usual Lane Departure one step further and it works almost too well. On the freeway the vehicle will stay in its lane through easy to moderate corners even if your hands aren't on the steering wheel. Now I don't suggest you do that but when you combine the adaptive cruise control system interstate driving is almost effortless in this vehicle. It is important the driver always pays attention though you never know what could happen.

        The q50 will arrive in showrooms shortly to battle the segment heavyweights like the BMW 3-series and the Mercedes-benz C-Class. As well it will have to go up against some bright newcomers like the Cadillac ats and the Lexus is. By changing the vehicle's name this car is now behind the eight ball and Infiniti must convince consumers that q50 stands for compact sport luxury. Now at least the shape is somewhat familiar and there is new technology improved performance and a hybrid option.