A facelifted Infiniti Q50 will soon challenge the BMW 340i and Audi S4 thanks to a new 298kW 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine.
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Infiniti Q50 sales in Australia haven’t taken off as much as the company would have hoped, with the model now sitting in 11th place so far this year behind the popular German, Japanese, and English rivals.
Naturally the most important novelty is the addition of the all new twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine that can deliver either 300 hp (224 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque or 400 hp (298 kW) and 350 lb-ft (475 Nm) of torque in the high-performance variant.
It’s not quite the insane performance of the Q50 Eau Rouge, but the 2016 Infiniti Q50 has been updated with a 400-horsepower V6 engine.
Besides the new engines, the 2016 Q50 features an improved Direct Adaptive Steering system that is more customizable and “better mimics the feeling drivers are used to from conventional systems”.
The third engine will be a 208-horsepower 2-liter turbo incline 4-cylinder developed with Daimler that will be offered in late winter in base and Premium Q50 2.0t models. Although rumoured to be canned entirely, the brand instead says, “The system has undergone significant re-tuning to enhance steering feel and feedback”. The vehicle also has a retuned suspension, new stabilizer bars and a Dynamic Digital Suspension system on Q50 Sport models.
The powertrain shakeup also applies to standard versions of the 2016 Infiniti Q50. The Infiniti Q50 Hybrid also continues on for 2016, but continues to use the same 3.5-liter V-6 paired with electric motors for a total system output of 360 hp.
New interior trim materials and seat quilting, plus a new gearshift lever, are other updates.
The 2016 QX60 also adds to its already strong suite of advanced safety technology with Forward Emergency Braking (FEB) with pedestrian detection – a first for Infiniti and the brand’s exclusive Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW) system.
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“While the new Q50′s enhancements are found mostly under the hood, the changes to the 2016 QX60 premium crossover are apparent from the first time you see it”, explained Parker. Additional details will be available closer to when the 2016 QX60 arrives in Infiniti showrooms in late winter.
