Edmunds: Baby Infiniti Coupe in the Pipeline
#1
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Edmunds: Baby Infiniti Coupe in the Pipeline
Edmunds: Baby Infiniti Coupe in the Pipeline
CASCAIS, Portugal — At a drive session in Portugal in May, Nissan showed journalists the ultimate teaser. As we entered a design presentation and reception, two full-size side profile motifs protruding out of opposite walls in the auditorium, and hidden behind white sheets, pointed to not just one, but two new sport coupes — the new Z car, but also a baby Infiniti coupe based on the Z.
As we probed one Nissan source for answers, we learned that while the new Z will land in showrooms in 2009, the Infiniti coupe will "turn up in concept car form at a motor show within the next year." And this new Infiniti will sit on the same platform as that employed by the Z. That's all Nissan would give away.
Whether the new coupe will debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show or the Geneva show in March, given that Infiniti has just launched in Europe, is unknown. But one thing we did confirm is that we will see the coupe on North American streets by late 2010, and in European showrooms soon after that.
From what we could gather, the new baby Infiniti two-door will rival the BMW Z4 and Porsche Cayman for size and will be a rear-wheel drive two-seater hardtop. But unlike its hard-core Nissan Z brother, the Infiniti will lean more toward the luxury end of the scale, with a softer ride and more leather.
Expect a 2.5-liter V6 for this coupe, which will be the smallest model in the Infiniti range.
What this means to you: Expect to learn more in the coming year as the future Infiniti gets closer to launch.
As we probed one Nissan source for answers, we learned that while the new Z will land in showrooms in 2009, the Infiniti coupe will "turn up in concept car form at a motor show within the next year." And this new Infiniti will sit on the same platform as that employed by the Z. That's all Nissan would give away.
Whether the new coupe will debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show or the Geneva show in March, given that Infiniti has just launched in Europe, is unknown. But one thing we did confirm is that we will see the coupe on North American streets by late 2010, and in European showrooms soon after that.
From what we could gather, the new baby Infiniti two-door will rival the BMW Z4 and Porsche Cayman for size and will be a rear-wheel drive two-seater hardtop. But unlike its hard-core Nissan Z brother, the Infiniti will lean more toward the luxury end of the scale, with a softer ride and more leather.
Expect a 2.5-liter V6 for this coupe, which will be the smallest model in the Infiniti range.
What this means to you: Expect to learn more in the coming year as the future Infiniti gets closer to launch.
#2
That 2.5 V6 better be bitchin or else I don't see it keeping up with the 135i. I guess they'll start off as a 128i competitor, though a VQ37 in a 3000lb baby G would be sweet!
#3
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Originally Posted by I Go To Costco
That 2.5 V6 better be bitchin or else I don't see it keeping up with the 135i. I guess they'll start off as a 128i competitor, though a VQ37 in a 3000lb baby G would be sweet!
2.5 Liter V6
222 HP/194 LB.FT
*Nissan engineers demonstrated that it was possible to achieve an overall fuel economy of 38.3 MPG U.S. by traveling 636.5 Miles on one tank of gas in a Nissan Skyline.
NB5230
3.0 Liter I6
230HP/200 LB.FT
The 128i will be a very close match to this car, but it all depends on their weights. The 128i is heavy for its size (3,329 LBS Auto).
#5
Senior Moderator
Looks like the 1-series has started a trend of small affordable rwd coupes :thumbsup; Everyone who is anyone will have one out in the next couple of years (Hyundai, Toyota/Subaru, etc)...
If this turns out to look like the Altima with RWD, and it's priced competitively, it should sell well...
If this turns out to look like the Altima with RWD, and it's priced competitively, it should sell well...
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#8
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Very nice CGI. I look forward to seeing how this car fleshes out. Using the 2.5L V6, atleast to start with, is a good idea. Infiniti's keen not to step on the G Coupe's toes. Also, if it's tuned correctly, handles properly, and isn't a porker this car will be a lot of fun to drive wit the 2.5.
#12
Awesome.
#23
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Originally Posted by zeroday
Sadly, it wont look like that picture when it comes out.
#24
Originally Posted by titan
Why do you say that? The new G and New EX are extremely close to their concept versions, and Infiniti continues to move forward with it's very cool wave design. This CGI looks easily production capable.
#25
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Originally Posted by GreenMonster
This car is for us cool people... not you soccer dads
#26
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Originally Posted by F23A4
....and I was going to put my in for a minivan version.
Hopefully this will be a smaller lightweight rwd version of the G37, with weight more like the altima coupe... and styling in between the two...
I really like the styling of the altima coupe, and if it had been RWD, I'd probably already be driving one...
#27
Originally Posted by GreenMonster
This car is for us cool people... not you soccer dads
#28
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Originally Posted by GreenMonster
maybe you guys will get a crossover version of it... oh wait, isn't that what the ex35 is ??
Hopefully this will be a smaller lightweight rwd version of the G37, with weight more like the altima coupe... and styling in between the two...
I really like the styling of the altima coupe, and if it had been RWD, I'd probably already be driving one...
Hopefully this will be a smaller lightweight rwd version of the G37, with weight more like the altima coupe... and styling in between the two...
I really like the styling of the altima coupe, and if it had been RWD, I'd probably already be driving one...
#29
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by charliemike
Oddly, I've never really thought of the G3x coupes as a model that would have something slot below it at Infiniti.
With the G37 weighing in at 3668 lbs and starting at $35K , there's room for a cheap 2.5L rwd coupe in the line up...
#30
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by F23A4
The Alti coupe's styling has not grown on me. I would much rather have a 1G G35 coupe.
<--- looks to see what 1G G35's are going for...
#31
I've seen an Altima coupe with the 07 350Z wheels, looks hot
these wheels
these wheels
#32
Rooting for Acura
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I just hope this car accentuates the brand. "Affordable", entry level cars can have a negative effect on the brand. I think BMW, Benz and Cadillac learned their lesson from that. Now BMW has a great entry level vehicle in the 1 Series (and I'm sure no one misses the 318 with hub caps). Benz remoded the C Class in recent years and now it is finally worthy of it's badge (IMHO). Then the Caddy.... I remember their first attempt at the entry level sedan, the Cimarron. I sware the was the beginning of the end for Cadillac. Now they have the CTS.
I hate to rant on about this but Acura learned it's lesson with the RSX. It's a great car, but one that should of always wore a Honda badge. The second thing they did wrong was drop the car completely from the line up when they could have made it worthy of an "up-name" brand. Hopefully Infiniti gets it right the first time.
/rant
I hate to rant on about this but Acura learned it's lesson with the RSX. It's a great car, but one that should of always wore a Honda badge. The second thing they did wrong was drop the car completely from the line up when they could have made it worthy of an "up-name" brand. Hopefully Infiniti gets it right the first time.
/rant
#33
The problem with the RSX was that the Civic Si had LSD, had a nicer interior (IMO) and had navi as an option, whereas the Acura didn't. And I think the Si ended up costing less too. That pretty much sealed the RSX's fate, upscale interior or not.
And the Cimarron was a huge turd from what I've heard. Pretty much a rebadged Cavalier? And the BMW & MB 4-cyl hatchbacks looked like crap, which didn't help much either.
And the Cimarron was a huge turd from what I've heard. Pretty much a rebadged Cavalier? And the BMW & MB 4-cyl hatchbacks looked like crap, which didn't help much either.
#34
Rooting for Acura
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Originally Posted by I Go To Costco
The problem with the RSX was that the Civic Si had LSD, had a nicer interior (IMO) and had navi as an option, whereas the Acura didn't. And I think the Si ended up costing less too. That pretty much sealed the RSX's fate, upscale interior or not.
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