Infiniti Expanding Lineup 60 Percent Within Five Years
Though the man who steered Infiniti toward its current Q-bound direction has since left for Cadillac, the premium brand is still on track to expanding its lineup on the way towards becoming a full-time player in the luxury game.
Autoblog reports the brand will boost its current offerings by 60 percent within the next five years, expanding to eight coupes/sedans and five crossovers/SUVs for a total of 13 models. While no specifics were revealed by Infiniti Americas vice president Michael Bartsch at this time, he did proclaim an EV is still on the way, as well as a QX30 crossover based upon the Q30 concept.
Further, Infiniti has plans to beef up its IPL division by distributing the firepower among the range. Currently, only the Q60 coupe and convertible are wearing the IPL badge, though the QX30 could be up next for performance-enhancing.
Until then, the brand is bringing the Q50 and Q50 Hybrid to showrooms, and is collaborating with Daimler AG to build 2-liter turbo-fours that are currently Euro-market only.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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I like Infiniti FAR MORE than acura. They have the strongest V6's I've ever used with the best engine notes. Maxima is a far better car than the TL. If they can pull off a "4-door GT-R" it'll be a game changer.
"adding eight coupes/sedans and five crossovers/SUVs to the eight-vehicle lineup" This makes it sound like 8 (existing) + 13 (new) = 21 models. I think you need a "to replace the eight-vehicle lineup" in there somewhere.
Also, IPL needs a rethink. That's not an enticing set of letters.
The names remain a total disaster. If you're at all familiar with Mercedes, you know what a GLK, ML, and GL are. Hell, even though BMW has gone absolutely insane with minor product variants, the X1, X3, X4, X5, and X6 hierarchy makes basic sense. It used to be the same with Infiniti. The EX was the compact CUV, the FX was the mid-size sporty poor man's Cayenne, the JX was the big three row GL/MDX competitor, and the QX was the old dog Lexus GX/LX competitor. If you say to me QX60, QX70, QX80, QX90, I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. I don't know which one is bigger or smaller, which one costs more or less. It's a DISASTER. The cars are nearly as bad. They are keeping the G around even longer as the Q40, along with the Q50, the Q60 which is also the old coupe, and then the Q70 which is still the old M just with the new name. Their new double screen system is also lousy, the e-steering system is awful, and paint and trim are STILL falling off their interiors after a few years. Yes they are better than Acura, but is that really a complement?