2014 Infiniti Q50 - Review

The Basics:

The 2014 Infiniti Q50 may have an inscrutable new badge on its rear end, but sports-sedan enthusiasts know what's really at work. The Q50 is the follow-up to the Infiniti G, the first real Japanese-bred rival to the BMW 3-Series, and as it takes a bow at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, it lays out a more ambitious agenda than ever before.

Tackling the latest 3-Series--and now, the new Cadillac ATS, and the upcoming 2014 Lexus IS--means elevating the old G37's game on a few fronts, and styling is where the 2014 Q50 charges ahead. The new sheetmetal's just striking: the sensuality of the bigger Infiniti M sedan works in exotic new ways on the Q50, especially at the exaggerated intersection of curves and surfaces behind its rear doors. The boomerang brackets at the grille resemble the ones on the Lexus, but their hourglass shape is more at ease with the rest of the silhouette. We've seen dramatic cars that don't look so exciting a year later--the Q50 isn't one of them.

The interior's organized around a sweeping theme that cordons off the controls to the driver with an arc running down the console. It's dominated by what's sure to be the Q50's lightning rod for controversy: Infiniti InTouch, a twin-screen system that maps out the brand's place in the world of CUE and MyFord Touch, with a handful of redundant hard keys left behind. A large touchscreen displays frequently used functions from atop the dash, while a second touchscreen runs other infotainment and other systems on a separate pane below. For example, destinations are chosen on the lower screen, but display on the upper one. In effect, it's dual monitors--and an interesting choice that could reduce complexity, or increase it.

Both versions of the Q50 coming for the 2014 model year will sport V-6s, and one will be an updated version of the current engine, a 3.7-liter V-6 with 328 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. New to the lineup is a version of the hybrid drivetrain from the M35h, a combination of a 3.5-liter V-6 with lithium-ion batteries, an electric motor, two clutches, and a net 354 hp. No performance numbers have been hinted at, other than a loose suggestion of "strong acceleration and lean fuel economy." Powertrain and road noises are damped by active noise cancellation--white noise pumped in through the car's speakers.

In either version, a seven-speed automatic with a manual mode is the sole transmission offered. Paddle shift controls are available. All-wheel drive will be an option on either model.

Infiniti's new Direct Adaptive Steering is available on the 2014 Q50. It's said to allow for four different steering settings with independently adjustable steering weight and ratio--with a conventional mechanical setup as a fallback. A revised suspension leaves the double-wishbone front layout intact, while adding dual-flow shocks to the multi-link rear suspension. A sport-tuned setup will be offered, and both the stiffer Q50 body and the retuned suspension improve handling, Infiniti says. Standard-issue 17-inch wheels are shod with 55-series run-flat all-season tires, with all-season or summer tires optional in 19-inch, 40-series spec.

The Q50's seats benefit from some of the thought that went into those in the 2013 Nissan Altima--pressure is distributed more evenly, for long-distance comfort. For more interior space, Infiniti says it's slimmed down the front seatbacks and increased front-seat travel and height adjustment. In back, passengers have easier access, Infiniti says, because of a B-pillar moved an inch forward. Trunk space is boosted to 18 cubic feet on the non-hybrid Q50, while the hybrid loses 3.9 cubic feet to battery pack storage.

New safety technology offered on the 2014 Q50 will include Active Lane Control. Its cameras pick up on slight steering shifts due to road surfaces and crosswinds, and correct for them. Also available are adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, lane-keeping assist, and lane-departure and forward-collision warning systems.

When it arrives in showrooms later this year, the 2014 Infiniti Q50 will come standard with features like Bluetooth, dual-zone automatic climate control, a surround-view camera, and satellite radio as standard equipment. A sunroof is on the options list, as are a 14-speaker Bose audio system,

Pricing and gas mileage estimates haven't been announced.

The 2014 Infiniti Q50 goes on sale this summer. Stay tuned for a first drive coming soon.