30-31_Life Begins 19/11/2013 15:54 Page 2
motoring
or the real deal?
By Matt Kimberley
The Q50 is the spearhead with which Infiniti wants to give
the big Germans a poking on their home turf.
special designation) an instant swell of torque low down in the
rev range before the 3.5-litre V6 takes over to pump the overall
power output to 360bhp.
In this hybrid guise the car excels in slow traffic under gentle
throttle inputs, where the engine can switch off altogether
until the battery is depleted. With the air conditioning on,
though, the engine quite often has to keep cutting back in to
power the auxiliary systems.
The rear-wheel drive version of the Q50S is a very fine steer
on twisty roads, too, where a genuinely adjustable and
composed chassis shines through, thanks in part to the clever
Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS), which in a world-first move
isn’t connected to the front wheels by any mechanical means.
It’s completely fly-by-wire, like a fighter jet, which means the
steering responsiveness can be customised to how the driver
wants it. It works brilliantly, giving an increased measure of
control and a greater sense of confidence, flattering a driver
but also giving them the green light to exploit the wealth of
talent it has.
Although Infiniti have the experience of Nissan behind them,
they are a relatively young company and so the UK dealer
network is not as comprehensive as it’s rivals but Infiniti’s
customer service is reportedly something special. The nearest
dealer for Life Begins readers is in Reading which whilst not
local, is not too far away if they ever need to be called upon.
You do get the feeling that the youngest premium car
manufacturer out there might be about to come of age. Be
prepared to see an Infinti dealer springing up much closer to
home in the near future!
facts at a glance
Infiniti Q50S,
from £40,000 on the road
Engine:
Fully enclosed 3.5-litre V6 petrolelectric hybrid system producing
360bhp and 403lb.ft
Transmission:
Seven-speed automatic gearbox
driving the rear wheels
Performance:
Top speed 155mph (limited), 0-62mph
in 5.1 seconds
Fuel economy:
45.6mpg
CO2 rating:
There are some small niggles with the new Q50, like the satnav screen’s glare issue, but it’s thoroughly enjoyable to drive. It
cruises effortlessly, looks arguably much more stylish than the
alternatives and feels solid.
Model:
144g/km
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