Nissan to introduce Infiniti in Japan next year – Q50 Hybrid will be the first model, badged as Skyline

infiniti_q50_eu-spec_5

The Japanese giants created luxury brands like Lexus, Acura and Infiniti in the late 1980s to move upmarket, allowing them to sell cars at a price and segment that a mass market Toyota, Honda or Nissan badge wouldn’t have been able to command. They were never meant for the Japanese domestic market, where a Nissan badge can be on everything from kei-cars to limos.

Toyota was the first to bring its luxury brand ‘back home’ by introducing Lexus in Japan in 2005. Now, Nissan is doing the same with the introduction of Infiniti in the Land of the Rising Sun, 24 years after the brand was launched in the USA.

The launch model will be the Infiniti Q50 Hybrid, to be called ‘Skyline’ in Japan, an unfamiliar marque balanced by a famous nameplate. To go on sale in February 2014, Nissan is targeting initial monthly sales of 200 units. The car will be priced from from 4.5 million yen (RM145,112).

infiniti-q50-exterior-0003

The Q50 made its debut at the Detroit show earlier this year, before a European premiere in Geneva added a Mercedes-sourced diesel engine to the mix. The hybrid is powered by a 3.5 litre V6 with 302 hp and 350 Nm, combined with an electric motor that does 67 hp/270 Nm. Combined output is 360 hp. It’s a fast car, with 0-100 km/h in 5.5 seconds and a 250 km/h top speed.

This move is part of Infiniti’s plan to significantly boost volumes – the brand sold 173,000 cars in 2012, but is looking to shift half a million vehicles a year by 2017. Will Japan help much? Last year’s domestic sales for Lexus fell 3% to 42,300 vehicles, accounting for less than 10% of total global sales for Toyota’s luxury brand.

Like what you see? It was announced back in May that the Infiniti Q50 will be coming to Malaysia, and you can view the 3-Series-fighter at this weeks’s KLIMS13 show, where Infiniti will have a booth for the first time.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • motorhead on Nov 13, 2013 at 11:02 am

    Japs Jaguar…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • RM145,112 at japan…. with their average income of RM20,000 per month, they can easily buy the car by paying cash after some savings. In Malaysia, even 9 years loan will kill most.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 22
    • You forget how much they pay for their petrol, car insurance and parking lot.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 3
      • Driving a car to work or other place is just an alternative for them as their country public transport is just so good. So the cost for toll, parking and petrol still manageable by them.
        Plus, at Malaysia insane high tax, you are paying few hundred thousands ringgit more, I think that is more than enough to pay their parking lot, petrol…..

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
        • Dreamer on Nov 15, 2013 at 2:42 am

          and yet in Japan if u consider their population penetration, their luxury cars per population is much less than us . i wonder why?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
          • PauKaya on Nov 16, 2013 at 7:37 pm

            they have a very good public transport system, and people there buy cars more for their interests than for basic needs.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • PauKaya on Nov 16, 2013 at 7:36 pm

        petrol costs more…but car insurance is almost similar…parking lot…well ur house isn’t cheap at all in malaysia. then again, life is different there….these cars are affordable for lower ranking working people while in malaysia we have to be at a rather high position or earning a lot to buy this.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • AutoFrenz on Nov 13, 2013 at 11:29 am

    The article is a bit confusing…so the car will be called Infiniti Skyline in Japan…and not Infiniti Q50 as in the US and worldwide…might as well retain the Nissan name because it is Nissan Skyline anyway…if they are serious about going upmarket then stick to its original name ie Q50…how can Infiniti be coined with a model name after Nissan…for example it doesn’t make sense to have Lexus Harrier in Japan when the model is actually RX or Lexus Prado when the model is known as GX elsewhere…when the model is exclusively meant for the brand then stick to it…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • Car dreamer on Nov 13, 2013 at 11:31 am

    reminds me of the new Mazda6..with more curves..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
  • heybadigol on Nov 13, 2013 at 12:53 pm

    Calling it Infinity Skyline is weird. Doesnt quite roll of the tongue nicely. But hey, its Nissan/Infiniti car, they can call it anything they like.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • SamShowedMeTheHilux on Nov 13, 2013 at 3:35 pm

    This car looks much better in real as the curves and smooth lines pop up to life when in 3D.

    In 2D pix, it is just showing 20% of its beauty

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
 

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