It feels like an understatement to say that things aren’t great at Infiniti right now from a product perspective. With the brand’s compact crossovers bowing out soon with no immediate replacement, new cars are seriously needed. How about one that promises fun? That’s right, Infiniti is reportedly working on a new Q50, one that brings back something missing from the Infiniti lineup since 2015.
It’s easy to forget that Infiniti was absolutely crushing it in the 2000s, and the G35 walked up to the E46 BMW 3 Series and gave it a fat lip on picture day. A standard 3.5-liter V6 with outputs ranging from 260 horsepower in early sedans to 298 horsepower in later Rev Up models, a notchy six-speed manual transmission, available reclining rear seats in sedans, a capable chassis for the time with multi-link suspension at all four corners and intensive use of aluminum arms, and a base price that undercut the German competition. I actually owned a G35 sedan with a six-speed manual and it was a blast, and now the brand seems willing to channel some of that greatness.
Automotive News reports that a next-generation Q50 was teased by the brand at a dealer convention in Las Vegas on Wednesday, and not only is it on-track for a 2027 arrival, it’s sticking to a classic formula, and I’m not just talking about the claim that “Infiniti teased the low-slung model in a video that revealed a swoopy profile, slender headlights and Skyline-styled circular taillights,” because what’s allegedly under the hood is stuff we’re all familiar with:
According to people familiar with the vehicle, the Q50 will switch to rear-wheel drive and be offered with a manual transmission. A Red Sport performance trim is being considered.
“The new Q50 is a visceral car with a twin-turbo that screams,” one of the people said. “It’s not practical, but it is fun.”
Offering a row-your-own gearbox would make a ton of sense considering the FM platform has already offered the VR30DDTT three-liter twin-turbocharged V6 and a six-speed manual transmission in the Nissan Z, and a 2019 SEMA build by Concept Z Performance found that Nissan’s CD009 six-speed manual gearbox pretty much bolts up to a late-model Infiniti Q60. With nothing else in the segment this side of a BMW M3 or Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing offering a stick-shift, it would be a unique selling point for Infiniti.
However, just because it sounds like Infiniti is cooking with leftovers doesn’t mean there’s no possibility of adding a bit of kick to the seasoning mix. A source told Automotive News that “the Q50’s engine could be tweaked to deliver more than 450 hp,” a spicy number that would put the next Q50 closer to the V8-powered Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance on output and keep it competitive against German rocketships like the BMW M340i and Audi S4.
Of course, there’s still some trepidation to be had here, because by 2027, the components purportedly underneath would be really old. Could a new car on what would then be a 26-year-old platform with an eleven-year-old engine be good? Well, with the right tuning and steering hardware, it might be. An original G35 is still a fun car to drive, whereas the softer previous-generation Q50 lost a good chunk of its grandfather’s immediacy while gaining optional and unwelcome steer-by-wire that was originally mandatory on the fastest trims.
If the next Infiniti Q50 is to be a hit, it’ll need to stick to the formula that made the G35 successful: performance, value, and luxury, in that order. Infiniti doesn’t really have the hardware to compete with the latest sports sedans on refinement, but it absolutely has the ingredients to beat them on thrills. I guess we’ll know in two years whether this is just a Gen X nostalgia play or the next great enthusiast sedan.
Top graphic image: Infiniti
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I think I’ve seen more Lucids than newer infinity’s. I know I’ve seen more Rivians. This thing is a Questing Beast and will never be captured in the wild
The first gen was a relatively decently styled car, but then Nissan went all lumpy with their styling. I guess there is a market for ugly out there.
Yeah, but it’s an Infiniti, so…
“Save the manuals” so yeah! But on an ancient warmed over Datsun with delusions of grandeur – meh.
Just hope to Dog they 86 that absolutely horrible electric FBW steering nonsense. Had a bunch of rentals with it – terrible. Made an early BMW F30 steering setup feel like a race-prepped 911 in comparison. Deader than my grandfather’s grandfather, and about as reactive.
Will it have the variable working engine Nissan is known for?
Its supposed to regulate compression but its fairly consistent about 0psi compression.
Yes, continuously variable.
I had one of the first g35 coupes ever made and liked it a lot. I ended up replacing it with a 350z for various reasons, but they could have got me again when the last bodystyle came out if there’d been a manual option.
Don’t sleep on the G37 sedan. It had 328 horsepower in the 6 speed manual version.
Personally, I’d rather Infiniti bring back the NA VQ along with the manual transmission.
I’m not concerned about an old chassis, as long as it’s a good one.
Me too, to be honest. If I bought one, I’d probably be holding it for a while – at least to avoid the pain of eating the Infiniti depreciation over the first few years. I don’t really need 400hp+ for daily driving duties. As long as it’s not a total pig I think I could have enough fun with 300-350hp.
With an NA V6 I’m going to have fewer things to break and more room to work on the things that do break.
I remember the Z32 turbo. All the turbos had a seal problem, and the job to replace them was like 24 hours of shop time.
The Z32 was designed for a an inline engine that we never got in the US. When they put the VG30DETT in there, they had to modify the engine bay and the strut towers to fit it. They modified them just enough to fit the engine, not enough to allow room to service it.
You had me at RWD Manual Sedan.
The only problem with RWD is traction. How well will it hook up with 450+ hp? I’m all about RWD if you’re around 300-350. 400+ and I’d prefer AWD, especially if you’ll be seeing any of the white stuff.
I fail to see the problem. I knew a guy with a hopped up 442 on narrow studded snow tires. In July. The lack of traction was the entire point
The point depends on the application. I’m looking at a hot sedan myself, but I need something that can safely ferry children. 450 HP and RWD in the snow is not my idea of a good time when I have small dependents with me.
And no, it’s not a driver problem – I grew up driving in snow 5 months of the year.
Where do you live? There are four places for snow in my experience.
Michigan lakeshore, but good snow removal and salt doesn’t stop snow drifts between open farm fields (EDIT: especially when it is too cold for salt to work to start with). Powder and slush is not a problem. Black ice is.
Yes, throttle application, traction control, other various nannies, etc. It’s doable. Drive straight and don’t make sudden movements. But it’s not fun when a tire getting off the road even two feet means you’ll end up in an irrigation ditch. And with 450 at the rear wheels, that’s more likely to happen if you are driving over patches of hidden ice where you’re gaining/losing traction in a fraction of a second with zero warning.
That sounds like it’s a good idea to get a winter beater. I would think a Corolla with a stick and some studded tires would be cheap and easy to drive in those conditions. Then when the roads are clearer (and less salty), then you can go back to driving a nice car.
If only there were such things as winter beaters… $1000 used to get you something that had heat and wouldn’t leave you stranded somewhere. If you want something now with under 200k miles that will fit a few kids and not be a deathtrap, you’re looking at 3-5k at least.
To circle back to the original comment lol… I’d rather do one car but keep it around 300-350hp RWD, or if more then AWD. Just my preference though for a year-round DD.
Here’s two crazy ideas.
I found a Leaf for $2500 in Birmingham. Can get 30% off from the Feds. So, under $2k.
Given that Spirit has direct flights and this has a 60 mile range before it needs a charge at a charger that is going to be hard to find down in the South, this is a combo meal of stupidity.
Ok, yeah, got to admit, the days of $2k winter beaters is gone, even in the South.
However, with that said, I tell people it’s worth a flight down south to shop for older used cars. My car is 21 and doesn’t even have surface rust from rock pings on the hood.
RWD is where it’s at for fun. Take it easy is the old saying. RWD was the default for decades and it was fine
But did the cars of decades ago have this much power and torque on tap? 😉
It’s only 450 hp when you push the pedal to the floor and wind it up. It’s not a on/off switch. You can just drive normally and be fine.
Exactly, why drive in the snow if you can’t do donuts and powerslides?