The Sport also rolls on 19-inch alloy wheels and offers a firmer suspension tune that sits 15mm lower than SE and Premium models.
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Active Noise Cancellation compensates for NVH from the 2.2-litre diesel powerplant, but Active Sound Enhancement also tweaks the noise from the engine for a sportier soundtrack under load.
“Q30 makes a daring visual statement through its sculpted, concept car-like exterior, unconventional stance and asymmetric cabin design”, says Roland Krueger, Infiniti president.
Through its first 26 years, Nissan’s luxury division has refrained from participating in the compact-car derby, save for the mostly forgotten G20 sedan. Infiniti estimates that the vehicle will go on sale in Europe later this year, and it will reach the U.S. early in 2016.
According to the manufacturer, the Q30 delivers “exceptional ride and handling” from its combination of MacPherson struts and multi-link IRS, and is expected to appeal on the basis of its head-turning design. Buyers can pick between “City Black”, “Cafe Teak”, and “Gallery White” interior color schemes, with options like Dinamica suede for the headliner and pillars. The company refers to the overall look as “dissymmetry”.
The new Q30 is based on this same platform, so you can sort of think of it as the four-door hatch version of the Mercedes-Benz CLA, which is hardly a bad thing.
In addition to these powertrain options, Premium and Sport models add a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine producing 208hp.
Engineers debated 50 different shock-absorber settings before settling on one, Infiniti says, adding bump-shock rates and shock-absorber rebound rates also were specially tuned to make the auto “forgiving and comfortable, without sacrificing agility”.
The car’s electric power steering is intuitive and speed-sensitive, claimed to offer a consistent and connected feel.
We expect rear-seat space will be tight, as in the CLA. Infiniti says that this results in a 10 percent improvement in conversation audibility over the vehicle’s leading competitor at a speed of 120 km/h (75 mph). The hatchback serves as the doorman to Infiniti’s model range as the smallest and cheapest vehicle available, and it does so as the product of a unique collaboration between Infiniti, Renault-Nissan, and Mercedes-Benz.
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A full array of electronic safety features will be available on the Q30, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, park assist with Around View Monitor, high-beam assist, and moving-object detection.
