Details of Cars

Infiniti Q50: the Skyline-based compact executive car

INFINITI

Infiniti Q50 (V37)
Infiniti Q50 (V37). Photo by Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The Infiniti Q50 is a compact executive car that replaced the G sedan. It debuted at the 2013 North American International Auto Show, went on sale in North America in the third quarter of 2013 and in Europe in the fourth, and is the export version of the Japanese-market V37 Nissan Skyline.

Infiniti Q50 at a glance

Infiniti Q50 key facts
Maker Infiniti (Nissan, and Dongfeng Nissan in China)
Class compact executive car
Debut 2013 North American International Auto Show
On sale North America Q3 2013, Europe Q4 2013
Donor car Nissan Skyline (V37), Japanese market
Design Joel Baek under Shiro Nakamura, frozen June 2011
US engines 3.7 V6 of 333 PS, 3.5 hybrid of 364 PS
European engines 2.2d diesel and hybrid; 2.0 turbo of 211 PS from 2014
Drive rear-wheel drive or Intelligent All-Wheel Drive
Steering no traditional steering column
Hybrid discontinued after the 2018 model year
Q50L 48 mm longer wheelbase, for China

Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Infiniti Q50.

History of the Infiniti Q50

The Q50 was unveiled at the 2013 North American International Auto Show and followed at the Canadian, Geneva, Dubai and Guangzhou shows, among others. Its design continued a language first shown by the 2009 Infiniti Essence concept and the 2011 production Infiniti M, and drew on the Infiniti Etherea for its headlights, three-dimensional double-arch grille and interior finishes. The production shape was frozen in June 2011, designed by Joel Baek under Shiro Nakamura.

Infiniti Q50
Infiniti Q50. Photo by crash71100, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Early cars in the United States and Canada came with a 333 PS 3.7-litre V6 or a 364 PS 3.5-litre hybrid, each with rear-wheel drive or Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and a choice of trims including Sport. US sales began in August 2013; European buyers were offered the 2.2d diesel and the hybrid, with a 211 PS 2.0-litre rear-wheel-drive model added in 2014. The Q50 was the first Infiniti entry-level model with a hybrid powertrain, and it was notable for having no traditional steering column. The hybrid was dropped after the 2018 model year.

A long-wheelbase Q50L, 48 mm longer between the wheels, was unveiled at the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show with a 2.0-litre turbo engine and a seven-speed automatic, and it was offered in China in Comfort, Elegant, Sport, Luxury and Sport Luxury trims. The Q50 Eau Rouge concept of 2014 was a Formula One-inspired study with carbon-fibre bodywork and 20-inch forged wheels, and a prototype followed with the 568 PS twin-turbo V6 from the Nissan GT-R; plans to build it were shelved in January 2015. Two 2014 Designer Editions by Zac Posen and Thom Browne were sold through gilt.com at $75,000, part of the money going to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Design and features

  • Skyline export: the Q50 is the export version of the Japanese-market V37 Nissan Skyline.
  • No steering column: the car was notable for doing without a traditional one.
  • First hybrid at the entry level: a 3.5-litre hybrid was Infiniti’s first in this class.
  • Eau Rouge: a 2014 concept with carbon-fibre bodywork and, in prototype form, the GT-R’s 568 PS V6.

Infiniti Q50 versions

  • Q50 3.7: the 333 PS V6, rear- or all-wheel drive.
  • Q50 Hybrid: the 3.5-litre hybrid of 364 PS, sold until 2018.
  • Q50 2.2d: the European diesel.
  • Q50 2.0t: the 211 PS turbocharged four from 2014.
  • Q50L: the long-wheelbase Chinese model.
  • Q50 Eau Rouge: the 2014 concept and prototype.

The Q50 replaced the G37 and took styling cues from the Infiniti M and the Etherea concept. More cars are in the Infiniti collection.

Video: 2014 Infiniti Q50 Review

Video by AutoGuide.com on YouTube.

Sources

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