Infiniti Prototype 10 Concept Reviews

You'll find all our Infiniti Prototype 10 Concept reviews right here.

Our reviews offer detailed analysis of the 's features, design, practicality, fuel consumption, engine and transmission, safety, ownership and what it's like to drive.

The most recent reviews sit up the top of the page, but if you're looking for an older model year or shopping for a used car, scroll down to find Infiniti Prototype 10 Concept dating back as far as 2021.

Infiniti Reviews and News

Infiniti FX and M35h 2012 Review
By Craig Duff · 05 Jun 2012
Money talks. but Infiniti won't reveal prices or spec details until closer to the late-August launch of Australia's newest luxury brand.That makes rating it in the prestige hierarchy — Lexus, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz — all but impossible.Infiniti Cars Australia general manager Kevin Snell says he won't chase volume by making it a "budget prestige" brand. "That just defeats the purpose of being in this market. People buy these types on vehicles on value and image, not price," he says."The younger Gen Y buyers are looking for something different. In many cases they see European prestige cars as representing their parents' values."So Infiniti wants to be different, right down to the design of its cars with the signature bulging front guars pushing up in to the bonnet. Snell knows the look won't suit the conservative crowd — and is happy about it.THE RANGEThe FX all-wheel drive SUVs are expected to account for more than 80 per cent Infiniti cars for the first 12-18 months, headlined by the V8-powered FX50S.The M35h hybrid will be the only sedan in the line-up at launch but will be followed by the small-sized G Coupe and G Convertible towards the end of the year and the next-generation G sedan is due in late 2013.Infiniti can tap the resources of Nissan and Renault and has grabbed two of the best engines in the alliance's inventory in the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel from Renault and the 3.7-litre petrol V6 that is best known in Nissan's sporty 370Z.PRICINGWith no news from the Australian arm, a look at the British Infiniti website shows the FX range has four basic spec levels, GT, GT Premium, S and S Premium. Prices start around $74,000 for the base FX37, with the diesel engined FX30d just $135 more. At the top of the tree, the FX50S Premium sells for $92,500. In comparison, BMW's X6 range — the closest in terms of looks to the FX — starts at $74,200 in the UK for the xDrive30d, steps up to $75,500 for the xDrive35i and costs $92,000 for the xDrive50i. The range-topping, turbodiesel xDrive50d adds another $8000. Expect local prices to be more than the UK figures but still on a par with Infiniti's Euro rivals.DRIVINGThe focus on performance is obvious in all the cars during a brief drive in New Zealand this week. They go hard and hold the road better than a high-riding 2.1-tonne vehicle should be able to.FX37 normally rolls on 20-inch rims but the test vehicles were S variants with stiffer suspension and 21-inch wheels covered with 265/45 rubber. Tyre noise on the coarse chip surfaces around Queenstown was noticeable from 80km/h up, but it was made more obvious by the lack of wind noise coming off the A-pillars and chunky side mirrors.The FX37 officially uses a litre less fuel over 100km than the V8, but that ain't the case when it's trying to catch its bigger brother. The six-cylinder's fuel use of 14.6L/100km was above the 13.1 Carsguide in the FX50.That was largely due to the transmission kicking down a couple of gears on when attacking hills to keep the 3.7-litre engine revving. The V8 was generally happy to cover the same ground in a higher cog.The BMW X6 has the edge in on-paper performance but in the real world there won't be much between the two vehicles. The heated and ventilated front leather seats in the Infinitis are snug, supportive and stylish and the FX doesn't want for standard kit.It also has the safety software to suit this class, from adaptive cruise control to lane departure warning and a tyre pressure monitoring system. And the sloping roofline that helps give the car its stand-out shape doesn't limit headroom for 180cm-plus rear passengers.VERDICTInfiniti has the vehicles to compete on the road. Now we need to know the value equation to see how the newest prestige player will compete in showrooms. Don't expect the other brands to sit back and watch, though, which can only be good for all potential prestige buyers. .Infiniti FXPrices: TBAWarranty: TBAResale: NAService intervals: TBAEngines: 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6, 175kW/550Nm (FX30d); 3.7-litre V6, 135kW/360Nm (FX37); 5.0-litre V8, 287kW/500Nm (FX50S)Transmission: Seven-speed automatic, all-wheel driveBody: 4.86m (L), 2.13m (W), 1.68m heightWeight: NAThirst: 9.0L/100km, 238g/km CO2 (FX30d); 12.1L/100km, 282g/km CO2 (FX37); 13.1L/100km, 307g/km CO2 (FX50S)Infiniti M35hPrices: TBAWarranty: TBAResale: NAService intervals: TBAEngine: 3.5-litre V6 petrol-electric hybrid, 268kW/620NmTransmission: Seven-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Body: 4.95m (L), 2.06m (W), 1.5m (H)Weight: NA Thirst: 6.9L/100km, 158g/km CO2
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Infiniti to launch with two models
By Craig Duff · 04 Jun 2012
Infiniti Cars Australia general manager Kevin Snell says the small footprint - both in vehicle range and retail outlets - is an intentional approach to ensure the company can micro-manage its rollout Down Under.Snell says Infiniti will rely on the performance pedigree of its cars and the brand focus on the "customer experience", including home collection and drop-off of cars that need servicing, to help it stand out in a crowded and competitive prestige market."You only get one shot to launch a car brand," Snell says "and we can't afford not to do it properly first time around. We aim to give a point of difference in terms of our customer service and I won't apologise for ensuring we get that right before we go in all guns blazing.""We'd love to be in Perth and Adelaide (at launch) but the reality is we need to make sure the customer experience is right in our first three stores." Those three dealerships will be run by three of the biggest names in the automitve reatail business. Infiniti has appointed the Suttons Motor Group in Sydney, Penfold Motors in Melbourne and A.P. Eagers in Brisbane.Snell says Perth and Adelaide outlets will be added by the end of next year but won't reveal how customers in those cities who want to buy a car now will be serviced. "Like the pricing and sales projections, that will have to wait until August," he says.He also promises Infiniti will rapidly expand its line-up as new models come into the mix. "Between late 2013 and 2016 we'll have six new vehicles," he says. "We absolutely intend to have a full model range - that's the only way we can hit 10 per cent (the global prestige car target for Infiniti)." The launch vehicles include the FX mid-sized SUV with a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel, a 3.7-litre petrol V6 and a range-topping 5.0-litre V8. It will be joined by the M sedan, headed by the world's quickest hybrid in the M35h with a 0-100km/h time of 5.5 seconds. 
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Audi teaches drivers to have a clue
By Bill Buys · 29 May 2012
Most have never exceeded 100kmh, the majority have no idea of what ABS really is or does, and pitifully few would know what to do if their car got into a slide.Advanced driving instructors are appalled at the tuition of so-called driving schools, where people are taught to pass a simple test, but not how to drive, or enjoy a car. Exceptions are enthusiasts, who tend to undergo courses, often run by premium car brands, among them Porsche, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.In a new move, the Audi course, previously open only to owners, will from July be available to anyone keen to improve his or her skills. You don't have to own an Audi. The German brand's Drive Experience program is a $6.8million, 40-car investment presented by a dozen hand-picked instructors which will go around the nation, presenting its benefits at racing circuits, Perth's Barbagallo Raceway included.The training fleet includes  Q-series SUVs, A1 Sport hatches, fiery S and RS models, eight R8 V10s and a brace of full-on R8 LMS racers. Most of the instructors, led by Steve Pizzati, are former Porsche driver trainers, among them Dean Canto, Ian Dyk and Luke Youlden, all graduates of Audi's `train the trainer' course in Austria.The skill-building program covers five levels and each is a full day course. Mit catering. It starts with a $750 advanced `experience' and goes on to an $1190 performance course, which includes racetrack action in RS 5 and R8 models; then there's the $2990 sports car component and it ends with a $5990 Audi Race Experience in the Bathurst-winning R8 LMS.Audi expects only two per cent of its intake to go as far as the race experience. There's also a $5700 Ice Experience, held in New Zealand. We slotted into a quick mix of levels two to four at the Phillip Island circuit, and under expert tutelage, fanged an RS 5 through the slaloms, flung a TT RS through the chicanes and played follow the leader around the GP circuit at ever-increasing speeds in an R8.Had a ball, came back with some newfound skills, a sharper mind and an acute awareness of the abject lack of driving skills on our roads, brought about by the endless dumbing down policies of successive governments. The Audi Experience comes at a cost. But what price life? And if you can get so much fun and driving competence thrown in, isn't it a bargain? 
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IT a priority for young drivers
By Craig Duff · 13 Mar 2012
Accommodating that shift in values was a key theme at the Geneva Motor Show, from high end brands such as Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz to volume sellers such as Volkswagen.  Infiniti's business vice-president Toru Saito says the interconnected nature of the next-gen car buyers the focus must focus on ensuring the car is a mobile IT platform.  "IT is very important because customers are so dependent on their smart phones," he notes. "For many young customers, IT is more important than driving pleasure."  Infiniti feels the pressure, given its target demographic is younger than that of many prestige buyers - though the extensive iPhone integration built into the Mercedes A-Class launched in Geneva shows the German company wants a slice of the market, too.  Dealing with the fact that people change their mobile devices - and the technology improvements that brings - faster than they change their cars is a key challenge for the entire industry.  Saito says Infiniti's approach will be to provide an open interface and software updates to the vehicle to cope with the increasing complexity of mobile devices. Lead designer Shiro Nakamura points to the iPad as a mobile device that may well replace the infotainment system in future cars and be used for everything from satnav to audio control (the screen in smart phones is too small to show satnav and more complex visual displays).  Download an app and the tablet device could then be integrated into the vehicle's electronics to adjust the airconditioning system and interact with other cars to alert drivers to traffic jams. "It's coming soon,"  Nakamura says, hinting that a concept version will be shown this year - and possibly as early as next month's New York Motor Show.  That will satisfy owners with a seamless transition from home or office into the car - and also reduce costs for carmakers, who won't be required to have built-in infotainment systems.
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Money talks in Geneva
By Paul Gover · 12 Mar 2012
... rival the prices on the BMW options' list for things like salad and spuds.So it's no surprise that the top end of town calls the shots at the Palexpo alongside Geneva Airport as Europe's carmakers go head-to-head for the first time in 2012. Ferrari and Lamborghini battle for go-faster bragging rights as Rolls-Royce and Bentley get serious about family motoring for the ultra-rich, while Infiniti pitches an new exotic coupe and even Ssangyong of Korea goes upmarket with a new concept. There are also dozens of one-off dream machines and hotrod tuner cars in Geneva, a show that is traditionally dominated by European design stars including Pininfarina and Giugiaro. But there is plenty, too, for ordinary car buyers as the Fiesta ST brakes cover, Hyundai updates the i20 and teases with the Veloster Turbo, Jaguar confirms an XF station wagon, Audi and Mercedes-Benz previews their A3 and A-Class, and Ford even updates its box-boring Transit workhorse. Picking the best of the best is tough with so much gorgeous stuff on the stands, but Alfa Romeo is the winner for 2012 and edges out the Infiniti Emerge-E with its Disco Volante.The pretty little red coupe is dreamy without being stupid and is already confirmed for production, although the slightly-retro body will be draped over Alfa's existing 8C Competizione chassis - 4.7-litre V8, 335kW, 0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds - which means it's no chance for Australia with only left-hand drive.The Ferrari F12 is exactly what you expect from the fastest car to wear the badge - 340km/h and 0-100km/h in 3.1 seconds - including a swoopy body that taps the past as well as the influences that created the California convertible, but Lamborghini goes even better with an Aventador J preview car that is snapped up for a rumoured $2.8 million ahead of genuine production of an open-topped Aventador supercar.Rolls-Royce updates the Phantom with a new nose that still demands respect, as well as tweaking its colour choices with a two-tone approach that triggers memories of cheap seventies vinyl roofs, and Jaguar gets serious for families with an XF Sportbrake that will still struggle in a world of SUVs.Further down the food chain, the Audi A3 looks good but not as edgy as an A-Class that must break away from the bus pass generation into something closer to the Y-Gen futurists, and Volkswagen previews a more car-like Tiguan crossover with its Cross Coupe.Hyundai has a preview of a new flagship coupe called the i-oniq - did it mean ironic? - Kia shows a Track'ster that will become the new Soul, Honda shows the CR-V design that's coming to Australia, and the pocket rocket Ford Fiesta ST breaks cover with a confirmation for Australia.The action and excitement at Geneva goes on and on, and that is - really - the best thing about the show. Detroit in January hinted that the word's carmakers are finally emerging from the austerity and fear of the global financial crisis and the big-spending effort in Geneva confirms it, with good news for almost everyone from Euro billionaires to ordinary Aussie families.PG PICKS:1. Bentley EXP 9 F.Only one word fits - Ugly. With a big capital U. The hulking British bulldog might tick the boxes for cashed-up families, but this SUV makes a LandCruiser look elegant, and subtle.2. Giugiaro Brivido.Exactly what you expect to see in Geneva, as designers go all-out to impress the crowds - and each other. Not for production but a great looker with huge gullwing doors.3. Range Rover Evoque Convertible. A certainty for production as Land Rover milks its most successful design - ever. This one will never go bush but is being fast tracked for Double Bay and Toorak.4. Ssangyong XIV-2. Who knew the South Koreans could trump the Euros with a design that combines SUV practicality with a coupe-convertible body? A big surprise.5. Toyota FT-Bh: Just when you thought the uglies were done, Toyota lobbed with this. If it's the future for hybrid cars then sales will be slow. Very slow.
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Infiniti Emerge-E at Geneva 2012
By Craig Duff · 07 Mar 2012
It's a sign of things to come from Nissan's prestige carmaking division. The 300kW mid-engined hybrid sports car is likely to appear on the road in some shape - and sooner rather than later.Design chief Shiro Nakamura says a pair of prototypes will be built for evaluation but stopped short of saying the Emerg-E will go into production.Infiniti Australia general manager Kevin Snell was also coy. "There's no doubt Infiniti is looking at a halo sports car - it's a logical extension of the brand," he says."Whether that's the Emerg-E or a car that is based on its design and drivetrain we don't know just yet."The concept is powered by a 150kW electric motor on each rear wheel with a mid-mounted three-cylinder petrol engine operating as a range-extender. Infiniti says the car accelerates from 0-100km/h in less than four seconds and can run 50km on battery power alone with a total range of around 500km with assistance from the 35kW engine.The car was developed with help from the British Government's Technology Strategy Board, whose aim is to speed the arrival of low carbon vehicles and Infiniti partnered with companies such as Lotus on aspects of the design and powertrain.Infiniti says the styling is an evolution of the Essence concept which debuted at Geneva in 2009.
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Infiniti chases young buyers
By Craig Duff · 06 Mar 2012
The Nissan luxury arm is aiming at earlier life clients than Audi and BMW - and fellow Japanese competitor in Lexus - and is looking at an average buyer age of 35-45. Infiniti Australia general manager Kevin Snell says part of that approach will be to put the customer experience at the fore during both the purchase and ownership experience. He also promises competitive pricing and higher standard specifications but isn't prepared to nominate figures for any of the three model ranges the Infiniti brand will launch with in August. "Our research shows customers in this market want stylish design, performance and a transparent relationship with the dealer," he says. "They also aren't looking at the brands their parents might have driven - the label isn't important, the features it (the vehicle) delivers are." A high-performance SUV will spearhead the range - Infiniti is starting with just three platforms and three dealerships - one each in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The FX50S is a V8-powered rival to BMW's X5 and comes with the performance and looks to set it apart from most prestige SUVs. The long bonnet and swoopy roofline typify the dramatic styling of the Infiniti range. Snell says the looks will be polarising but will appeal to enough people to grab 10 per cent of the prestige market when Infiniti hits full swing by 2020. Last year, around 80,000 prestige cars were sold in Australia. The FX model will also be sold with a V6 petrol and V6 turbodiesel engines. The diesel option helps set it apart from Lexus and Snell promises Infiniti's hybrid and electric models will also better its Japanese rival's products. The M range sedans are based on the same monocoque platform as the Nissan 370Z and will come in diesel, petrol and hybrid variants. They will be followed late this year by the petrol-powered G coupe and convertibles, giving Infiniti an initial range of eight cars. "We launch with the M35h sedan and Guinness World Records has already certified that car as the fastest production hybrid in the world (with a 0-100km/h time of 5.5 seconds)," he says. "It is a performance car and a hybrid. That means it has all the features prestige customers expect without compromising the driving experience." The next-generation G sedan will follow in 2013 and will be joined by a luxury hatch and full electric vehicle as Infiniti aims to expand its range by 2015. Nissan-Renault product head Andy Palmer says the EV model will be based on the Nissan Leaf with extended range, features and performance. It will follow the Nissan example of not having a swappable battery, but Palmer won't comment on whether the car will be sold outright or whether customers will buy the vehicle and then lease the battery.
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Infiniti 2012 Review
By Craig Duff · 06 Mar 2012
Pricing will be the key to Infiniti's success in Australia - despite the company refusing to announce prices until closer to the official launch in August.Audi, BMW and Lexus all have very capable vehicles and Infiniti will have to play on price as well as looks and performance The brand will launch with three platforms and a total of eight cars, all based on Nissan's 370Z architecture. But that range will progressively expand to seven models by 2015 when Infiniti expects to give German rivals Audi and BMW a serious hangover.Ironically, that will be partly due to the arrival of Daimler-sourced four-cylinder powerplants.FX crossoversThe BMW X5 leads the luxury SUV market - and the squared-off Beemer is right in the FX's headlights.Infiniti will launch the all-wheel drive model with all the flavours needed to satisfy demand, from a punchy 3.7-litre V6 petrol model to a 3.0-litre turbodiesel and a hi-po 5.0-litre V8 that (just) out-accelerates the Porsche Cayenne V8 S's 0-100km/h time of 5.9 seconds, though it can't match it on fuel efficiency.Infiniti says the FX50S will be more than $100,000 but adds that standard equipment levels will better those of its rivals, from the seven-speed automatic transmission to the 11-speaker Bose sound system.The V6s represent a more realistic real-world drive but Infiniti Australia general manager Kevin Snell predicts the FX50S will be the most popular of the trio at launch as early adopters chase the kudos of owning the top-end model.I'd buy the diesel. Its 0-100km/h time of 8.3 seconds doesn't reflect the effortless mid-range surge that is on tap once the vehicle is underway. The long bonnet and solid rear roof pillars means up-close visibility isn't a strong suit in the cars, which is why they're fitted with an array of cameras to help when parking, while the 50 also has four-wheel steering to help with cornering at carpark and freeway speeds.The driving position is closer to a luxury sedan than an SUV and the interior is as luxurious as a penthouse suite. That premium feel continues with the dynamics, with the steering precision not far off a Beemer and with more feedback than Audi's SUVs.Rear legroom is limited if the front-seat occupants are 180cm or more and there's not a huge amount of boot space - two suitcases will fill up the back.M sedansThe M37 petrol engine and M30d diesel donk are the same as those found in the FX range.The headline act for the mid-sized rival to the 5 Series, Audi A6 and Lexus GS350 is the hybrid M35h. It uses a 3.5-litre V6 with 225kW and 350Nm combined with a 50kW/270Nm electric motor. The combination has led to Guinness World Records certifying the car as the fastest-accelerating production hybrid car with a 0-100km/h time of 5.5 seconds.Fuel use is said to be 7.0-litres/100km and there's the now-expected three driving modes. The most efficient Eco mode increases the resistance of the accelerator pedal to discourage putting too much boot in. I'm not a fan but it is effective. The Infiniti sedan isn't far off the pace in terms of interior fit and finish either. The approach is busier than Audi's benchmark interiors but the execution is hard to fault.The switchgear has a solid feel and the satnav system is easy to drive and read while the voice instructions are timely and not confusing. G coupe and convertible The two-door G models are the oldest cars Infiniti Australia will bring in at launch and that's one of the reasons the company is holding off on the sedan variant of the small prestige car until the model model arrives late next year.Carsguide drove the M37 convertible that will be a direct competitor with BMW's 335i hardtop and reckons it will have the biggest task of any of the Infiniti range. The seamless six-cylinder engine in the 3 Series Beemer has more mid-range urge than the Japanese-built Infiniti and rear visibility is also marginally better.On the flip side, the default kit in the Infiniti is more extensive than that in the BMW and Infiniti says that will resonate with buyers who resent having to select - and pay a premium for - options boxes for what they consider should be standard creature comforts in a prestige vehicle. If we had a price the comparison would be much easier, but Infiniti won't talk hard numbers given it is still five months from putting cars in showrooms.The look is more lithe than the BMW though and that should earn it a following among those who want to stand out from the crowd.VERDICTIf the price is right Infiniti will wedge its way into the prestige market. It has the looks and performance to appeal and the company's research shows there is a market for cars that don't have the sharp crease lines that typify the major players in this space.And it's not looking to conquer the world -- just 10 per cent of it. Based on the execution so far, that's not an unrealistic expectation.MODELS:FX30d/M30d - 175kW/550Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbodieselFX37/M37/G37 - 235kW/360Nm 3.7-litre V6 petrolFX50S - 287kW/500Nm 5.0-litre V8M35h - 275kW/620Nm V6 petrol-electric hybrid
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Nissan Infiniti to challenge Lexus sales
By Ged Bulmer · 30 Nov 2011
Nissan Australia CEO Dan Thompson said the premium brand – which arrives here next September – intends to overtake Lexus. “Our ambition in the longer term, you know 2020, clearly is to be well ahead of where Lexus is today,” he told Carsguide. Speaking in Japan ahead of the Tokyo international motor show, Thompson, who heads up both Nissan and Infiniti in Australia, says Infiniti will launch with four different vehicles in three series: the BMW 3-Series sized G Series, in coupe and convertible; the Mercedes E-Class sized M Series; and the FX which goes up against the likes of BMW’s X6 and Porsche’s Cayenne. Thompson pointed to movements in the luxury car segment in recent years, notably the emergence of Audi against established luxury rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz as evidence of how much the category can change in just a few years. “I wouldn’t sit here and pretend to forecast where any of those four brands will be (by 2020) but I can assure you Infiniti will be in a strong position and certainly at least the number one non-European premium brand in Australia.”  The challenge will no doubt be heeded by Lexus which is in the process of attempting to reinvent its image in Australia with a range of more exciting products, including the forthcoming GS F Sport sedan, which also launches next year.Like Lexus Infiniti will offer a hybrid drive train on the BMW 5 Series-sized Infiniti M Series at launch. But unlike Lexus Infiniti has the option of introducing diesel models from its European range, something Thomson said was very much on the radar. “From a power train perspective we’ll have options across the range ranging from hybrid, diesel or petrol,” says Thompson. He dismisses suggestions that consumers may have bad memories of the Inifiniti brand, which was briefly sold here in the early 1990s via the single model Q45 luxury sedan.The attempt at the time by Japanese car makers including Toyota (Lexus), Nissan (Infiniti) and Mazda (Eunos) to challenge the German prestige brands was largely unsuccessful, with only Lexus surviving. Infiniti fared better in the USA, though, and its success there eventually led to the brand launching in Europe in 2008 and its planned Australian comeback. “For me it’s not really a question of re-establishing. I don’t believe the brand ever was established here. We launched a model for a period of time that was very short lived,” says Thompson. “Our biggest challenge in establishing the brand now is awareness in a very crowded space.There are 64-odd brands in the market today (and) there’s a fair few premium or quasi-premium brands fighting over a rather small slice of premium or luxury consumers. “We’ve been very particular about who we’ve selected as our partners, our dealers, to make sure that they can deliver that same Infiniti promise and experience.”    So particular in fact that there will be just three dealerships at launch - one each in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane - none of them established Nissan dealers. Thompson acknowledges the lack of dealership presence other than the east coast capitals is not ideal but is confident the brand will grow to encompass these markets.   “It’s not our intention to keep the brand within just the three launch cities. We’ll eventually go out to the likes of Perth and northern Queensland and Adelaide but it will take a bit of time and we’ll do it when we believe the brand is starting to establish itself and there is enough scale to warrant going to some of the second-tier markets.”
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Nissan Infiniti here next year
By Paul Gover · 23 Mar 2011
Webber drives an Infiniti M37 as part of a new global tie-up between the Nissan luxury brand and his Red Bull F1 team and it's on the list for local sales. Infiniti has been working on a plan for Australia for more than two years and it finally went public this week on the broad details - including models and three upscale dealerships in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane."We've been talking for two-and-a-half years and finally it's all happening. We've got enough certainty on the model lineup and dealer strategy that we're able to say something concrete," says Dan Thompson, the Nissan Australia boss who has been driving the Infiniti plan."We saw an opportunity to do something this week with the Australian Grand Prix and the relationship with Red Bull. This is such a great day for Infiniti." The brand's hero car is the FX, a BMW X5-sized crossover SUV.Its design is genuinely unique and - from a brief drive in Europe - it will deliver a very different experience for Australian shoppers. The other two models in the lineup are the G-series, which comes as a BMW 3-Series sized convertible and coupe, and the M sedan which Infiniti sees as a rival to the BMW 5 Series. There will be an M37 hybrid with petrol and diesel engine choices in the other models.Infiniti is not talking about prices or sales targets, as Thompson says it is far too early for specifics. "We won't have the cars in showrooms until September or October next year. And it's a very long-term project."Even so, Infiniti Australia is planning to go head-to-head with the Germany luxury brands from the start and totally rejects any suggestion that it will be a cut-price contender. "Absolutely not. We won't be the cheapest," says Thompson. The Infiniti pre-launch comes as the brand gears up for global growth intended to more than double its sales from the current level of 165,000."This performance luxury brand is moving into a serious growth phase," says Kevin Snell, the one-time Saab executive who is general manager of Infiniti Australia. "There is no cheap, easy way to break into this market. We want to focus on quality over quantity. We will do it step-by-step."Basic details on the Infiniti models are: FX - mid-sized luxury SUV, 290kW 5.0-litre V8 and 235kW 3.7-litre V8 petrol engines, 175kW V6 diesel; seven-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. Models are FX50 and FX37 M - mid-sized luxury sedan,  235kW 3.7-litre V6, 313kW 5.6-litre V8, 175kW 3.0-litre diesel, 261kW hyrid, rear or all-wheel drive.Models are M37, M56, M30d and M35h G - compact luxury sedan and convertible, 162kW 2.5-litre V6, 245kW 3.7-litre V6, rear and all-wheel drive with seven-speed automatic. Models are G25 and G37.
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