Infiniti Q50 Malaysia

  • DRIVEN: Infiniti Q50S Hybrid – enter the contender

    Infiniti Q50S Hybrid 1

    Breaking into an established scene requires more than persistence and the usual fortitude, especially if the doors remain wedged shut in welcoming newcomers. Sometimes, instead of just banging away head on in an attempt to break in, novelty in application helps, as does taking a left-field approach, especially when the entrenched is seemingly immovable.

    Case in point, the premium compact executive sedan segment. While the general C-segment seems to be falling by the wayside, especially here in Malaysia, the upper range part of the segment continues to perform nicely, led by the F30 BMW 3 Series and, in a different manner, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

    It remains a prime piece of land, this, and as such there’s no shortage of contenders vying for a slice of the pie – though not overly brimming in this market, options are wide enough; there’s the Lexus IS, ageing Audi A4 and the object of this week’s review, the Infiniti Q50, the latest challenger to enter the fray.

    The former two haven’t taken much away from the leading duo (there was a time when the Audi did, but like I said, it’s ageing, and ageing only means one thing), so it’s the turn of the Q50 to bat. There’s plenty of novelty in its application, and it’s certainly left-field in its approach, but is it good enough to take the spend away from the establishment?

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  • Infiniti Q50 2.0t now in showroom, Merc turbo, RM249k

    Infiniti Q50 2.0T Standard- 1

    Say hello to the Infiniti Q50 2.0t, the variant that will spearhead Q50 sales in Malaysia. With a Mercedes-derived 2.0 litre turbocharged engine under the hood, this is the first and only Infiniti model in our market that doesn’t come with a large naturally-aspirated engine, immediately raising its chances in a competitive segment dominated by the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

    This writer was driving past the Infiniti Center on Jalan Tun Razak when he spotted two fresh units of the compact exec beside the striking red Q50 3.5 Hybrid Sport that we recently tried (stay tuned for the test drive report). Made a loop for another look and spotted 2.0t badges on the cars, which led to these pics. Fresh to the showroom, I was told.

    Infiniti Q50 2.0T Premium- 24

    The Q50 2.0t is powered by a 2.0 turbo engine with 211 hp and 350 Nm of torque from 1,250 to 3,500 rpm. The direct-injection four-pot is paired to a seven-speed automatic gearbox with manual mode and Downshift Rev Matching. The drivetrain is from Mercedes-Benz, and can be found in the W212 E-Class facelift. The upcoming W205 C 200 is expected to carry this combo as well.

    Zero to 100 km/h is done in 7.2 seconds and top speed is 245 km/h. That’s comparable to the 184 hp/270 Nm BMW 320i, which is good for 7.3 seconds and 235 km/h. The W204 Mercedes C200 does 7.8 seconds and 235 km/h, so they’re all in the same ballpark. Like the German duo, the Q50 is a rear-wheel drive sedan. Claimed combined fuel consumption is 13.6 km/l

    Infiniti Q50 2.0T Standard- 17

    The Q50 2.0t Standard, at RM248,800 on-the-road without insurance, looks like good value for a CBU Japan import, and that’s before you scan the very decent spec sheet.

    Auto LED headlamps, keyless entry and push start, 10-way powered driver’s seat with memory (8-way for passenger), power steering adjustment, dual LCD screens, rear view monitor and tyre pressure monitor (TPMS) are all standard. Customers can choose from three leather colours – black, grey and beige – to go with the nicely-textured “Kacchu” aluminium trim.

    Should that be not enough, Infiniti is offering a RM30,000 upgrade package that includes 18-inch alloys (with obvious Enkei branding, 17-inch on Standard), a 14-speaker Bose sound system and Direct Adaptive Steering, among other things.

    The latter “steer by wire” system is the headlining tech act in the Q50. Operation is entirely electric, though there’s still a mechanical link for the direct steering in the form of a safety clutch – our man Jonathan likes this pioneering system, and you can read his review of the Q50 Hybrid here.

    Both the 2.0t Standard and 2.0t Premium have the regular Q50 face, as opposed to the Q50 3.5 Hybrid’s “Sport” appearance, which comes with a more aggressive front bumper and 19-inch alloys. We’re expecting the Hybrid to be priced at under RM400k, which means that it will be a rare sight. The 2.0t on the other hand, is competitively kitted and priced, and has the right drivetrain to take on the mainstream Germans.

    Infiniti Q50 2.0T Standard


    Infiniti Q50 2.0T Premium

     
     
  • Infiniti Q50 appears on Malaysian website – RM250k

    infiniti-q50-malaysia-website-0002

    The Infiniti Q50 has appeared on Infiniti Malaysia’s website with an estimated price of RM250k for the Infiniti Q50 2.0t Standard model, along with a preliminary equipment list.

    The rear-wheel drive Q50 competes in the same class as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3 Series and Lexus IS. Under the car’s hood is a 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine from Mercedes-Benz, similiar to the one in the W212 E-Class facelift and the upcoming W205 C-Class. In Q50 tune, it does 211 hp at 5,500 rpm and 350 Nm of torque from 1,250 to 3,500 rpm.

    This is 30 Nm more torque than the Q50’s 320 Nm figure for other markets, and we wonder why. The engine is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission with Downshift Rev Matching and Adaptive Shift Control.

    infiniti-q50-17-inch

    Other features of note include LED headlamps, LED foglamps and LED brake lights, keyless entry and start, power-folding heated wing mirrors, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, rear air vents, a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat with two-way power lumbar, eight-way power adjustable front passenger seat, heated front seats and 60/40 split backrest.

    Also included are a six-speaker audio system with Bluetooth support, Infiniti InTouch dual screen infotainment system, 17-inch wheels with 225/55 runflat tyres, ESP, VDC, Active Trace Control and six airbags. For a full list of specs and equipment, click here.

    Last we heard, three models will be available – a 2.0t Standard, a 2.0t Premium and a 3.5 Hybrid Sport. The RM250k estimated price for the 2.0t Standard matches what we wrote earlier.

    The Hybrid Sport will eventually get a pricetag of under RM400k, while the 2.0t Premium remains a question mark at the moment. We’re wagering somewhere between RM270k to RM300k, depending on what kind of equipment is added over the Standard.

     
     
  • Infiniti Q50 2.0T and Hybrid coming to Malaysia soon!

    infiniti-q50-hybrid-malaysia

    The Infiniti Q50 was first previewed in Malaysia at the KLIMS13 show last year. It was later showcased at Aloft KL Sentral in April. Word at that point was that the Q50 was set to be launched sometime this year. We now have news that bookings are now open for the Q50, with an official launch slated for sometime towards late August or early September.

    Three variants will be available here – an Infiniti Q50 2.0 Turbo with an estimated price of under RM250k, a Q50 2.0 Turbo Premium with added equipment, as well as range topping Q50 Hybrid Sport which will go for under RM400k. No official estimated price for the Q50 2.0 Turbo Premium for now.

    Most will go for the 2.0 Turbo, which is powered by Mercedes-Benz. The Q50’s engine is derived from the unit currently in the W212 Mercedes-Benz E-Class facelift. It even uses the same seven-speed 7G-Tronic Plus gearbox as the Merc. In Infiniti’s tune, the 1,991 cc four-pot does 214 PS at 5,500 rpm and 320 Nm of torque from just 1,250 rpm to 3,500 rpm.

    That power output is somewhere in between the F30’s 320i (184 hp, 270 Nm) and 328i (245 hp, 340 Nm) levels, but around the price of a 320i. We don’t know what kind of kit the Premium variant will have, but it shouldn’t push the price over RM300k. From what we understand, the Malaysian 2.0T won’t get the steer-by-wire system the Q50 is famous for, but the hybrid model will.

    The top of the range hybrid’s 3.5 litre V6 does 302 hp and 350 Nm of torque, and is assisted by an electric motor that has 67 hp/270 Nm. We’ve tried the hybrid model in Malaysia and Anthony will be giving you his first impressions in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, you can read Jonathan’s take on the car from his short drive in the US.

    Here are my own brief first impressions of the Malaysian spec car. The Q50 feels larger than its rivals, with a noticeably wider interior, and there seems to be more legroom as well. You won’t be getting Lexus ES levels of space, but compared to the traditional rear-wheel drive premium compact sedan in the RM200k to RM300k range, it will be less of an interior space sacrifice for a Nissan Teana buyer who’s upgrading.

     
     
  • DRIVEN: Infiniti Q50 – a first taste of ‘steer-by-wire’

    infiniti-q50-hybrid 003

    Contesting in the compact executive segment is like trying to academically stay afloat at the prestigious Heidelberg or Munich Technical universities. Ja, this is very much Germania’s institution. With some of her brightest, most sophisticated, athletic and experienced children on the roll, the school floors are littered with the bones of many an a-Ford-able X-Type and more-desirable-than-reliable 15-series Alfas.

    But today we have a new student of Japanese origin joining us (strangely enough, she speaks American English better than she does Japanese). Thrilled to have another overseas pupil in the class, IS and S60 flash her their most welcoming smiles. C-Class and A4, unfazed, barely look up from their books. 3 Series is absent (he rarely attends lectures, but aces all the exams every year anyway).

    They don’t come even remotely close to realising it, but the ‘new girl’ is in fact a returning student. Thanks to a thorough makeover by stylist Shiro Nakamura and a newly-acquired degree in advanced steering systems, none of her classmates recognised her as the quiet, plain Jane they knew as G Sedan. But how many hearts would her new-found beauty and brains win her this semester?

    Amusing image, isn’t it? But lest I end up writing the entire screenplay for the next instalment of Pixar’s Cars, I’d better stop here and get down to business. As you would know from our 2013 Top Five cars list, some time back, I enjoyed a short taster of the Infiniti Q50 – along with its world-production-first ‘steer-by-wire‘ system – at the Nissan 360 event in California.

    To Infiniti, and beyond.

     
     
  • GALLERY: Infiniti Q50 on display at Aloft KL Sentral

    Infiniti Q50 Malaysia Aloft- 10

    The Infiniti Q50 – the world’s first production car to be ‘steered by wire‘ – is on display at the Aloft KL Sentral hotel (special thanks to reader Justin Lee for the tip!) and so we bring you a gallery of the compact exec that’s expected to launch in Malaysia sometime this year.

    Crucially, the banner behind the car makes mention of a turbocharged, direct-injected 2.0 litre petrol engine that develops 214 hp, which pretty much confirms the powerplant for Malaysia. The four-cylinder motor should be mated to a seven-speed auto.

    Like the US-market example shown at KLIMS13 last year, this Q50 S features a more aggressive-looking front bumper (see regular Q50) and striking 19-inch alloys. Looks quite a treat, doesn’t it?

     
     
  • First view of Mercedes 2.0 turbo in the Infiniti Q50

    Infiniti_Q50_2.0_09_hires

    Here’s the Infiniti Q50 that the majority of Malaysians are going to pick when the brand’s C-Class fighter is eventually launched here in Malaysia.

    As an alternative to the big gas-guzzling V6 engines that debuted with the Q50, they’ve gone and sourced Mercedes-Benz’s M274 2.0 litre petrol engine for the four-cylinder Q50. Benefits include cheaper road tax, abundance of torque, and potential fuel savings.

    This engine will be mated to a Mercedes-Benz 7G-TRONIC PLUS 7-speed automatic gearbox, which sends power to the rear wheels. The engine has a compression ratio of 9.8:1, and will have direct injection with piezo injectors to complement the turbocharger. In Infiniti’s tune, the 1,991 cc four cylinder engine codenamed M274 will do 214 PS at 5,500 rpm and 320 Nm of torque from as low as 1,250 rpm up to 3,500 rpm.

    Curiously, power is actually a few PS higher than Mercedes-Benz’s “250” tune, but torque is lower at 320 Nm versus the equivalent Mercedes-Benz C 250’s 350 Nm. This might be deliberate to put some distance between the torque figures of the 2.0 litre Q50 versus the 3.7 litre V6 version that only has 365 Nm.

     
     
  • Infiniti Q50 makes Malaysian debut at KLIMS13, prices for new Q and QX line-up released

    Infiniti Q50 KLIMS 15

    Lots of firsts here – Infiniti’s first time at KLIMS and therefore the first time it’s showing its new Q-badged line-up in Malaysia, plus, the car above is the first Infiniti to be Q-named and the first production car in the world to be ‘steered by wire’.

    That’s right, the Infiniti Q50’s Direct Adaptive Steering relies on electronic signals to transmit steering inputs, with no mechanical involvement (not to be confused with electric power steering).

    This makes possible Active Lane Control – using a rear-view mirror-mounted camera and pattern-recognition software, this system reads the road ahead and makes small steering adjustments to keep the car accurately within its lane.

    The Lexus IS challenger is powered by a 328 hp/365 Nm 3.7 litre V6 that’s mated to a seven-speed auto which features Downshift Rev Matching and Adaptive Shift Control. There’s also Intelligent AWD and an InTouch dual-screen navigation system. The car on display at KLIMS13 is a US-market model.

    We’re told to expect the Infiniti Q50 to be introduced in Malaysia during the second quarter of next year, but whether the 302 hp/350 Nm 3.5 litre V6 Hybrid (which will be sold in Japan as a Skyline) or a small turbocharged four-cylinder-engined variant will join the party is not known at this early juncture.

    We also got word that the QX80 (yes, the gigantic Nissan Patrol Y62-related Infiniti QX!), with its 5.6 litre V8 and all of its 400 hp and 550 Nm of twist, could well be introduced in Malaysia.

    Also at the stand are the Q70 sedan (ex-Infiniti M) and QX70 SUV (ex-Infiniti FX). The Q70 is offered with either a 218 hp/252 Nm 2.5 litre V6 or a 320 hp/360 Nm 3.7 litre V6. Transmission is handled by a seven-speed auto. The executive sedan comes with sports-tuned suspension and can be ordered with 20-inch aluminium alloys.

    The QX70 only comes with the bigger V6, and this is also mated to a seven-speed auto. Fork out extra for the GT Premium package and you get Intelligent Cruise Control, Intelligent Brake Assist with Forward Collision Warning, Distance Control Assist, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection and an 11-speaker Bose Premium Audio System with an eight-inch WVGA colour touch-screen.

    The latest prices for Infiniti Malaysia’s current Q-badged range is as follows (OTR without insurance):

    • Q60 3.7 V6 (ex-G Coupe) – RM415k
    • Q70 2.5 V6 – RM320k, optional navigation RM3.5k
    • Q70 3.7 V6 – RM425k
    • Q70 Hybrid 3.5 V6 – RM499k
    • QX50 2.5 V6 (ex-Infiniti EX) – RM311k, optional navigation RM3.5k
    • QX50 3.7 V6 – RM380k, optional GT package RM15k
    • QX70 3.7 V6 – RM435k, optional GT Premium package RM35k
     
     
 
 
 

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Last Updated Mar 07, 2024