Archive for Infiniti

Click to enlarge artist’s impression

Earlier this week I wrote about how a stretched 4-door version of the Nissan GT-R to be sold under the Infiniti badge in markets like the US. Theophilus Chin has quickly whipped up a 4-door version of the Nissan GT-R with an Infiniti badge in front.

Somehow I don’t think a stretched version of the GT-R body works well aesthetically because of the way the front wheel arches bulge out. I think Infiniti would have to drastically restyle the car with only its underpinings remaining.

Related Posts:
Infiniti-badged 4-door GT-R coming soon?

The Nissan Skyline R32, R33 and R34 all came with 4-door bodies, though the 2-door coupe variants were far more popular with the car being a performance model and all. Auto Express reports that a 4-door Nissan GT-R is in the works using a stretched version of the R35’s platform, and it will be badged an Infiniti.

The new 4-door performance car will be known as the Infiniti R50, and will use a stretched version of the Nissan GT-R platform.

What’s going to be in the engine bay is still a question though, as supply is an issue for the hand-built VQ38DETT. A VK-based V8 like the 390 horsepower VK50VE may be used instead, but this is a big horsepower deficit against the VQ’s 473 horses.

Source

The production version of the Infiniti EX Concept revealed earlier in March this year has been unveiled to the public. The new Infiniti EX SUV comes in EX35 guise and features Nissan’s fourth generation VQ35HR 3.5 liter V6 engine putting out 290 horsepower. All that power is channeled through all four wheels through a 5-speed automatic transmission and Nissan’s new ATTESA E-TS (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All Electronic Torque Split) all-wheel drive system.

Infiniti calls this one a crossover coupe of sorts, putting it head to head against the upcoming BMW X6 crossover. Infiniti says for the moment since there are no other crossover SUV-coupes in that price segment it’s direct rivals are the BMW X3 3.0si and the Audi A4 3.2 V6 FSI quattro avant station wagon.

Other neat features include Around View Monitor (AVM) which uses four small cameras to give the driver a top-down view of the vehicle perimeter for parking assistance. It also has “Scratch Shield”, a special clearcoat paint that uses a special highly elastic resin which automatically repairs scratches such as fingernail scratches under door handles. This repair process takes anytime between one day to one week depending on ambient temperature and scratch depth. Scratch Shield remains effective up to 3 years.

Related Posts:
Infiniti EX Concept: future Infiniti EX35

Click here to read the rest of Infiniti EX35 Crossover SUV

I missed a very important photo in the recent coverage of the new Infiniti G37 Coupe. A photo of the interior! Well, here’s one, and you can click on it for an enlarged version for your viewing pleasure. For more details on the Infiniti G37 Coupe, look at the related posts linked below.

Related Posts
Infiniti G37 Official Details Released
Infiniti G37 features new VQ37VHR engine

This is Infiniti’s EX Concept, a new crossover SUV that’s one segment smaller than the larger FX SUV, taking on the likes of the BMW X3 and the upcoming Audi Q5. It will be displayed at the NYIAS 2007. The EX Concept is most likely to go into production as an EX35, using either a VQ35DE or a VQ35HR engine, though the prior makes more sense to me, since the VQ35DE engine has more torque than it’s HQ sibling, thus being more suitable for an SUV application.

While still a concept at the moment, Infiniti says the EX is 95% ready. Plus some of the features on the concept will not make it into production, for example a liquid crystal glass roof that can change from a transparent state to a more translucent appearance.

Something new is the Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system, which is an evolution of Infiniti’s existing production Lane Departure Warning System. This further enhances the warning system by actually stopping the sleepy driver from accidentally moving out of his lane rather than just warning him. Brakes are applied individually to begin a yaw movement back into the intended lane.

One more rear view shot after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Infiniti EX Concept: future Infiniti EX35

Here are more details on the Infinity G37 Coupe, this time officially from Infiniti’s UK Press Release. Like previously mentioned, the new engine is the VQ35VHR. Read my previous post for more details on the engine. Other driving-related details include either a 5-speed auto or a 6-speed manual, and a 4-Wheel Active Steer (4AWS) system.

Gadgetry include a touch screen satnav, a RearView monitor for those tight parking situations, an optional 11-speaker Infiniti Studio on Wheels audio system by Bose with 24-bit Burr Brown DAC, 3-way door speaker arrays with 10-inch woofers and a 9.3-gigabyte Music Box hard drive, with the entertainment system integrated with the satnav system.

Full spec sheet and more photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Infiniti G37 Official Details Released

Infiniti has updated their G Coupe with a new engine. Some might recognise this car as the Nissan Skyline V35, which carries the legend’s moniker but hardly any of it’s spirit. For one, the potent RB blown inline-6 is gone. Nevertheless, let’s have a look at Infiniti’s new luxury sports coupe.

The new Infiniti G37 is the world’s first application of Nissan/Infiniti’s new VQ37VHR engine, basically a stroked VQ35 with a new head and intake design as well as a higher compression ratio. It now makes 330 horsepower and 366Nm of torque, yet is expected to consume less fuel than the VQ35 on EPA’s fuel economy ratings. Why is that so?

Nissan has equipped with VQ37VHR with a variable valve timing and lift system called VVEL, or Variable Valve Event and Lift. It works similiar to technologies like BMW’s Valvetronic and Honda’s SOHC i-VTEC. VVEL removes the need for a throttle butterfly, improving the torque curve and fuel consumption at both the top and low ranges of the rev range. Nissan says VVEL has 32% quicker response, is 20% smaller and uses 52% less parts than BMW’s Valvetronic.

In the Infiniti G37, the VQ37VHR is mated either to a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic, and will have a limited slip differential. The Infiniti G37 also has four wheel steering. Wheels are massive 18 inch units that hide the largest rotors in the segment behind it’s multi-spoke: 14 inch discs at the front and 13.8 inch discs at the rear, with four piston and two piston calipers respectively.

A convertible version of the G37 is also rumoured to be coming in 2008. More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Infiniti G37 features new VQ37VHR engine

Infiniti showcased a new concept car at the 2006 North American International Auto Show at Detroit. This new Infiniti Coupe concept might just be the base for development of the next Infiniti G35.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Infiniti Coupe Concept

Nissan Motor Co has decided the new R35 Skyline GT-R will be sold in the US under the Infiniti brand, as the Infiniti GT-R.

Nissan executives have been battling for the Skyline to debut with a Nissan badge instead of an Infiniti badge because the Skyline is known to be a Nissan globally, and in games such as Gran Turismo. But studies have shown that sales might suffer if a premium sports car has a Nissan badge on it. The Nissan badge generally commands a lower price tag than Infiniti’s.

The Volkswagen Phaeton suffere the same fate, though it’s a great luxury car people preferred spending money on the Audi A8 to get the more prestigious Audi badge.

The ability to command premium pricing is important as the car will have a sticker price of USD$65,000. It will have all-wheel drive and horsepower figures upwards of 400.

More photos of the GT-R PROTO available here.